Education and naval career

Agnew was born in Bucklow, Cheshire,^[1] a son of C.L. Agnew of Knutsford.^[2] Educated at Repton School, he entered the Royal Navy on 25 October 1918, trained at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, and was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant on 15 May 1921.^[1][2]

Receiving promotion to lieutenant on 15 April 1923, he served on the sloop Bluebell on the China Station from August 1923 until January 1925, before serving on the battlecruiser Renown from March 1926 until July 1927. After a term as Aide-de-camp to the Governor of Jamaica, he was assigned to the battleship Queen Elizabeth in August 1928, transferring to the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert in May 1930. On 15 April 1931 he was promoted to lieutenant-commander, but retired from the Navy on 29 May at his own request.^[1]

Election to Parliament

Agnew was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for the Camborne constituency in Cornwall, at the 1931 general election.^[3] He served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Walter Runciman, the President of the Board of Trade, in 1935–37, and to Sir Philip Sassoon, First Commissioner of Works, in 1937–39. He was an Assistant Government Whip in May–July 1945, and held the Conservative Whip from August 1945 until February 1950.^[1] Agnew held the seat until the constituency's abolition at the 1950 general election.^[3] He contested the constituency of Falmouth and Camborne, but lost to Harold Hayman.^[1]

World War II

Agnew returned to naval service in August 1939. He was executive officer of the destroyer Bedouin in March–October 1940, and was promoted to commander on 9 July 1940. He was in command of the destroyer Ramsey from November 1940 to March 1941, receiving a Mention in Despatches on 1 January 1941. He then served aboard the heavy cruiser Kent from May 1941 until August 1942. From January 1943 until June 1944 he was on the staff of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich.^[1]

Return to Parliament

He re-entered the House of Commons at the 1955 general election as MP for South Worcestershire, and was re-elected there until his retirement at the 1966 general election.