Harry McGowan, 1st Baron McGowan

The Right Honourable
The Lord McGowan
KBE
Chairman - Imperial Chemical Industries
In office
1930–1950
Preceded by Alfred Mond, 1st Baron Melchett
Succeeded by Lord Fleck
Personal details
Born 3 June 1874 (1874-06-03)
Died 13 July 1961 (1961-07-14) (aged 87)
London
Nationality British
Spouse(s) Lady Jean Boyle Young
Children

Hon. Agnes Wilson McGowan
Hon. Isobel Young McGowan
Lord Harry Wilson McGowan, 2nd Baron McGowan

Hon. William Johnston McGowan
Parents Henry McGowan Esq.
Agnes Wilson
Alma mater Hutchesons' Grammar School
LL.D. St. Andrews University[1]

Harry Duncan McGowan, 1st Baron McGowan KBE (3 June 1874 – 13 July 1961) LLD DCL, was a prominent British industrialist who served as Chairman of Imperial Chemical Industries for 20 years.

Early life and education

McGowan was the only son of Henry McGowan Esq. and his wife Agnes (née Wilson). He was educated at Hutchesons' Grammar School, an independent school in Glasgow and Allan Glen's School. He joined the Nobel Explosives Company, the company founded by Alfred Nobel, as an executive officer. In 1918 he became Chairman and Managing Director of Explosives Trade Ltd (from 1920 known as Nobel Industries Ltd), a position he held until the formation of ICI.

Business career

In 1926 Nobel Industries merged with Brunner Mond, the United Alkali Company and the British Dyestuffs Corporation to form Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). The merger, orchestrated by Alfred Mond, 1st Baron Melchett and McGowan, created one of the world's largest industrial corporations at the time.[2][3] McGowan succeeded Lord Melchett as Chairman and Managing Director in 1930 and remained Chairman until 1950. McGowan was appointed a KBE in 1928 and on 24 February 1937 he was raised to the peerage as Baron McGowan, of Ardeer in the County of Ayr.[4]

Lord McGowan married Jean, daughter of William Young, in 1903. They had two sons and two daughters. He died in July 1961, aged 87, and was succeeded in the barony by his elder son Harry.

Coat of arms

References

  1. ↑ Burke's Peerage, 1970, p. 1697.
  2. ↑ Greenaway, Frank (2004) 'Mond family (per. 1867–1973)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press. Retrieved on 9 March 2007.
  3. ↑ "Mond, Alfred Moritz". Who's Who. Vol. 59. 1907. p. 1241.
  4. ↑ "No. 34375". The London Gazette. 26 February 1937. p. 1324.
  • Oxbury, Harold. Great Britons: Twentieth Century Lives. Promotional Reprint Company, 1993.
  • Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
  • Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
New Creation		 Baron McGowan
1937–1961		 Succeeded by
Harry Wilson McGowan

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