Frederic Seebohm, Baron Seebohm
Encyclopedia
Frederic Seebohm, Baron Seebohm, TD
(18 January 1909 – 15 December 1990), was a British
banker, soldier and social work innovator.
Lord Seebohm was the son of Hugh Exton Seebohm and Lesley Gribble, and grandson of the historian Frederic Seebohm, he was born in Hitchin
in Hertfordshire
. He was educated at Leighton Park School
and Trinity College, Cambridge
and then joined the Barclays Bank which had taken over the Hitchin Bank founded by his family. Seebohm served in the Royal Artillery
, reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was mentioned in dispatches
and was decorated with the Territorial Decoration
.
Having been local director of the bank's branch office in Luton
and Birmingham
, Seebohm became director of the main board after the war. In 1951, he was made a member of the bank's overseas board and in 1965 chairman of the renamed Barclays Bank International
. He retired seven years later.
On 28 April 1972, he was created a life peer
as Baron Seebohm, of Hertford in the County of Hertford
, having been knighted already in 1970. Between 1970 and 1971, he was High Sheriff of Hertfordshire
. Seebohm was chairman of the Committee on Local Authority Personal Social Services and of the Overseas Development Institute
. He was further president of the National Institute for Social Work
, of the Royal African Society and of the Age Concern
. He was further chairman of the Joseph Rowntree Memorial Trust for 15 years and one of the founders of the York Council of Voluntary Service. For the London School of Economics
and the Haileybury and Imperial Service College
, he was governor and chairman of 3i
. Seebohm died in a road accident in 1990, his wife a short time after.
In 1932, he married Evangeline Hurst. They had one son and two daughters including Victoria Glendinning
.
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
(18 January 1909 – 15 December 1990), was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
banker, soldier and social work innovator.
Lord Seebohm was the son of Hugh Exton Seebohm and Lesley Gribble, and grandson of the historian Frederic Seebohm, he was born in Hitchin
Hitchin
Hitchin is a town in Hertfordshire, England, with an estimated population of 30,360.-History:Hitchin is first noted as the central place of the Hicce people mentioned in a 7th century document, the Tribal Hidage. The tribal name is Brittonic rather than Old English and derives from *siccā, meaning...
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. He was educated at Leighton Park School
Leighton Park School
Leighton Park School is a co-educational Quaker independent school for both day and boarding pupils. It is situated in the large town of Reading in Berkshire, in South East England...
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
and then joined the Barclays Bank which had taken over the Hitchin Bank founded by his family. Seebohm served in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
, reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
and was decorated with the Territorial Decoration
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
.
Having been local director of the bank's branch office in Luton
Luton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
and Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, Seebohm became director of the main board after the war. In 1951, he was made a member of the bank's overseas board and in 1965 chairman of the renamed Barclays Bank International
Barclays plc
Barclays PLC is a global banking and financial services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. As of 2010 it was the world's 10th-largest banking and financial services group and 21st-largest company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine...
. He retired seven years later.
On 28 April 1972, he was created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Seebohm, of Hertford in the County of Hertford
Hertford
Hertford is the county town of Hertfordshire, England, and is also a civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of the county. Forming a civil parish, the 2001 census put the population of Hertford at about 24,180. Recent estimates are that it is now around 28,000...
, having been knighted already in 1970. Between 1970 and 1971, he was High Sheriff of Hertfordshire
High Sheriff of Hertfordshire
The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire was an ancient High Sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the invasion of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years...
. Seebohm was chairman of the Committee on Local Authority Personal Social Services and of the Overseas Development Institute
Overseas Development Institute
The Overseas Development Institute is one of the leading independent think tanks on international development and humanitarian issues. Based in London, its mission is "to inspire and inform policy and practice which lead to the reduction of poverty, the alleviation of suffering and the achievement...
. He was further president of the National Institute for Social Work
National Institute for Social Work
The National Institute for Social Work was a provider of services aimed at achieving excellence in practice and management in social work and social care in the United Kingdom. It was set up in 1961, following the proposals in the report of the Ministry of Health Working Party on Social Workers in...
, of the Royal African Society and of the Age Concern
Age Concern
Age Concern was the banner title used by a number of charitable organisations specifically concerned with the needs and interests of all older people based chiefly in the four countries of the United Kingdom....
. He was further chairman of the Joseph Rowntree Memorial Trust for 15 years and one of the founders of the York Council of Voluntary Service. For the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
and the Haileybury and Imperial Service College
Haileybury and Imperial Service College
Haileybury and Imperial Service College, , is a prestigious British independent school founded in 1862. The school is located at Hertford Heath, near Hertford, from central London, on of parkland occupied until 1858 by the East India College...
, he was governor and chairman of 3i
3i
3i Group plc is a multinational private equity and venture capital company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has offices in 13 countries across Asia, Europe and the Americas and had total assets under management of £12.7 billion as at 31 March 2011...
. Seebohm died in a road accident in 1990, his wife a short time after.
In 1932, he married Evangeline Hurst. They had one son and two daughters including Victoria Glendinning
Victoria Glendinning
The Hon. Victoria Glendinning, CBE , is a British biographer, critic, broadcaster and novelist; she is President of English PEN, a winner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, was awarded a CBE in 1998 and is Vice-President of the Royal Society of Literature.- Biography :She was born in Sheffield...
.