Alfred Herbert
Encyclopedia
Sir Alfred Edward Herbert KBE
(5 September 1866 – 26 May 1957) was an English
industrialist who moved to Coventry in 1887 to manage a small engineering business which grew to become Alfred Herbert Limited
, one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of machine tool
s.
and educated at Stoneygate House School in Leicester
, Alfred Herbert became an apprentice at Joseph Jessop & Sons, crane builders in 1884.
In 1887 he moved to Coventry
to become manager of Coles & Matthews, a small engineering business where his brother, William, was director. In 1888 he went into partnership with William Hubbard. They bought C&M for £2,375 and traded as Herbert & Hubbard. Herbert bought out Hubbard in 1894 and the company was incorporated under the name Alfred Herbert Limited
: a company that would become one of the World's largest manufacturers and distributors of machine tool
s. During World War I
Herbert became Controller of machine tool
s for the Ministry of Munitions. He was knighted in 1917 and appointed an Officer in the Belgian
Order of Leopold and an Officer in the French
Légion d'honneur
in 1919.
He retired to Dunley Manor in Whitchurch
and died at King's Somborne
in 1957.
Herbert's legacy also lives on in the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum
, of which he was a major benefactor. In 1938 he donated £100,000 to Coventry City Council to erect a Gallery and Museum on a town centre site owned by the council. The city's destruction
during the Second World War meant that construction was suspended. New plans were drawn up in 1952, and in May 1954 the foundation stone was laid by Herbert, who also donated a further £100,000 to the project.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(5 September 1866 – 26 May 1957) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
industrialist who moved to Coventry in 1887 to manage a small engineering business which grew to become Alfred Herbert Limited
Alfred Herbert (company)
Alfred Herbert Ltd was one of the world's largest machine tool manufacturing businesses. It was at one time the largest British machine tool builder.-History:...
, one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of machine tool
Machine tool
A machine tool is a machine, typically powered other than by human muscle , used to make manufactured parts in various ways that include cutting or certain other kinds of deformation...
s.
Career
Born in LeicesterLeicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
and educated at Stoneygate House School in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, Alfred Herbert became an apprentice at Joseph Jessop & Sons, crane builders in 1884.
In 1887 he moved to Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
to become manager of Coles & Matthews, a small engineering business where his brother, William, was director. In 1888 he went into partnership with William Hubbard. They bought C&M for £2,375 and traded as Herbert & Hubbard. Herbert bought out Hubbard in 1894 and the company was incorporated under the name Alfred Herbert Limited
Alfred Herbert (company)
Alfred Herbert Ltd was one of the world's largest machine tool manufacturing businesses. It was at one time the largest British machine tool builder.-History:...
: a company that would become one of the World's largest manufacturers and distributors of machine tool
Machine tool
A machine tool is a machine, typically powered other than by human muscle , used to make manufactured parts in various ways that include cutting or certain other kinds of deformation...
s. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Herbert became Controller of machine tool
Machine tool
A machine tool is a machine, typically powered other than by human muscle , used to make manufactured parts in various ways that include cutting or certain other kinds of deformation...
s for the Ministry of Munitions. He was knighted in 1917 and appointed an Officer in the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
Order of Leopold and an Officer in the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
in 1919.
He retired to Dunley Manor in Whitchurch
Whitchurch, Hampshire
Whitchurch is a town in Hampshire, England. It is on the River Test, from Newbury, Berkshire, from Winchester, miles from Andover and miles from Basingstoke. Much of the town is a Conservation Area. Because of the amount of wildlife in and near the river, parts of the town are designated as...
and died at King's Somborne
King's Somborne
King's Somborne is a village in Hampshire, England. The village lies on the edge of the valley of the River Test.-General information:The 'Sombornes' comprise the scattered village of King's Somborne, together with the hamlets of Little Somborne, Up Somborne, and Ashley.Between King's Somborne and...
in 1957.
Philanthropy
As well as being an industrialist, Herbert was a philanthropist within Coventry, building almshouses, supporting wounded servicemen through donations, establishing a camp for the city's poor children, and funding the rebuilding of Coventry Cathedral.Herbert's legacy also lives on in the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum
Herbert Art Gallery and Museum
Herbert Art Gallery & Museum is a museum, art gallery, records archive, learning centre and creative arts facility on Jordan Well, Coventry, United Kingdom....
, of which he was a major benefactor. In 1938 he donated £100,000 to Coventry City Council to erect a Gallery and Museum on a town centre site owned by the council. The city's destruction
Coventry Blitz
The Coventry blitz was a series of bombing raids that took place in the English city of Coventry. The city was bombed many times during the Second World War by the German Air Force...
during the Second World War meant that construction was suspended. New plans were drawn up in 1952, and in May 1954 the foundation stone was laid by Herbert, who also donated a further £100,000 to the project.