Guy Granet
Encyclopedia
Sir William Guy Granet, GBE
(13 October 1867 – 11 October 1943) trained as a barrister
but became a noted railway administrator, first as general manager of the Midland Railway
then as a director-general in the War Office
.
, where his father was a banker. He was educated at Rugby School
and Balliol College, Oxford
(Modern History, 1889) and was called to the bar in 1893 at Lincoln's Inn
.
In 1892 he married Florence Gully, daughter of William Court Gully (later Viscount Selby).
They had one child, Diana, who married the novelist Denis Mackail
.
Granet moved into railway management after holding the post of secretary to the Railway Companies' Association
from 1900–1905.
He was appointed assistant general manager of the Midland Railway
(MR) in 1905 and became its general manager the following year, on the resignation of John Mathieson.
This was very unusual at that time, when managers almost always rose through the ranks of railway operators. Over the ensuing eight years his organizational skills, and the analytic brain of his appointee as general superintendent, Cecil Paget
, effected a revolution in the company's ability to handle its heavy freight traffic expeditiously and profitably. Nonetheless, their 'traffic control' solution resulted in stifling locomotive development within the MR: the departure of Chief Mechanical Engineer R. M. Deely
has been attributed to Granet's rejection of his moves to introduce 8-coupled freight locomotives and de Glehn 4-6-0s for express passenger use.
Having impressed parliamentary committees as an expert witness, it was natural that Granet would be called upon by the government during World War I
, and he was successively: controller of import restrictions; deputy director of military railways at the War Office
; and director-general of movements and railways.
Granet retained his MR appointment until 1918, when he resigned and was given a seat on the company's board. At the grouping in 1923 he became deputy chairman of the new London, Midland and Scottish Railway
Company and was its chairman 1924–1927. As at the Midland, his appointee, this time Sir Josiah Stamp as President (chairman and chief executive), was crucial in the modernization of the company's management.
Granet was knighted in 1911 as a Knight Bachelor
and created GBE (Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
) in 1923. He died at Burleigh Court, near Stroud, Gloucestershire
, two days before his 76th birthday, after some five years of ill health.
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...
(13 October 1867 – 11 October 1943) trained as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
but became a noted railway administrator, first as general manager of the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
then as a director-general in the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
.
Biography
Guy Granet was the second son of William Augustus Granet and was born in GenoaGenoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
, where his father was a banker. He was educated at Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
and Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
(Modern History, 1889) and was called to the bar in 1893 at Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
.
In 1892 he married Florence Gully, daughter of William Court Gully (later Viscount Selby).
They had one child, Diana, who married the novelist Denis Mackail
Denis Mackail
Denis George Mackail was an English novelist and short-story writer, publishing between the two world-wars.Although his work is now largely forgotten, 'Greenery Street', a novel of early married life in upper-middle class London, was republished by Persephone Books in 2002.-Biography:He was born...
.
Granet moved into railway management after holding the post of secretary to the Railway Companies' Association
Railway Companies' Association
The Railway Companies' Association was a co-ordinating body for British railway companies from 1867 until nationalization in 1948. Its purpose was to protect the interests of the companies and their shareholders, chiefly against parliamentary interference...
from 1900–1905.
He was appointed assistant general manager of the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
(MR) in 1905 and became its general manager the following year, on the resignation of John Mathieson.
This was very unusual at that time, when managers almost always rose through the ranks of railway operators. Over the ensuing eight years his organizational skills, and the analytic brain of his appointee as general superintendent, Cecil Paget
Cecil Paget
Sir Cecil Walter Paget CMG, DSO , was a British locomotive engineer and railway administrator.Cecil Paget was the son of Sir George Ernest Paget, Chairman of the Midland Railway Company 1890-1911. He was born at Sutton Bonington, educated at Harrow and Pembroke College, Cambridge, and then joined...
, effected a revolution in the company's ability to handle its heavy freight traffic expeditiously and profitably. Nonetheless, their 'traffic control' solution resulted in stifling locomotive development within the MR: the departure of Chief Mechanical Engineer R. M. Deely
Richard Deeley
Richard Mountford Deeley was a British engineer, chiefly noted for his five years as Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Midland Railway....
has been attributed to Granet's rejection of his moves to introduce 8-coupled freight locomotives and de Glehn 4-6-0s for express passenger use.
Having impressed parliamentary committees as an expert witness, it was natural that Granet would be called upon by the government 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...
, and he was successively: controller of import restrictions; deputy director of military railways at the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
; and director-general of movements and railways.
Granet retained his MR appointment until 1918, when he resigned and was given a seat on the company's board. At the grouping in 1923 he became deputy chairman of the new London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
Company and was its chairman 1924–1927. As at the Midland, his appointee, this time Sir Josiah Stamp as President (chairman and chief executive), was crucial in the modernization of the company's management.
Granet was knighted in 1911 as a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
and created GBE (Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
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...
) in 1923. He died at Burleigh Court, near Stroud, Gloucestershire
Stroud, Gloucestershire
Stroud is a market town and civil parish in the county of Gloucestershire, England. It is the main town in Stroud District.Situated below the western escarpment of the Cotswold Hills at the meeting point of the Five Valleys, the town is noted for its steep streets and cafe culture...
, two days before his 76th birthday, after some five years of ill health.
Sources
- Alderman, Geoffrey, The railway interest, Leicester, Leicester University Press, 1973, ISBN 0-7185-1111-5
- Hartley, Harold, 'Granet, Sir (William) Guy', in The dictionary of national biography, 1941-1950, London : OUP, 1959
- 'Sir Guy Granet' [obituary] The Times, 12 October 1943, p. 6e
- 'Granet, Sir (Wm.) Guy' in Who was who, vol.4 : 1941-1950, London : Black, [early 1950s?]