Harry McGowan, 1st Baron McGowan
Encyclopedia
Harry Duncan McGowan, 1st Baron McGowan KBE
(3 June 1874 – 13 July 1961), was a prominent British
businessman.
McGowan was the only son of Harry McGowan and his wife Agnes (née Wilson), and was educated at Hutchesons' Grammar School
and Allan Glen's School
, Glasgow
. He joined Nobel's Explosives Company as an office boy at the age of fifteen and worked his way up to professional manager. During the First World War McGowan carried out a merger of most of the British explosives industry, and in 1918 he became Chairman and Managing Director of Explosives Trade Ltd (from 1920 known as Nobel Industries Ltd). In 1926 this company merged with Brunner Mond
, the United Alkali Company
and the British Dyestuffs Corporation
to form Imperial Chemical Industries
(ICI). He succeeded Lord Melchett
as Chairman and Managing Director in 1930 and remained Chairman until 1950. McGowan was appointed a KBE
in 1928 and in 1937 he was raised to the peerage as Baron McGowan, of Ardeer in the County of Ayr.
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 eldest son Harry.
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...
(3 June 1874 – 13 July 1961), was a prominent 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...
businessman.
McGowan was the only son of Harry McGowan and his wife Agnes (née Wilson), and was educated at Hutchesons' Grammar School
Hutchesons' Grammar School
Hutchesons' Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in the southside of Glasgow, Scotland. It was founded by the brothers George Hutcheson and Thomas Hutcheson in 1641 and was opened originally to teach orphans, starting with "twelve male children, indigent orphans".In 1876 a girls'...
and Allan Glen's School
Allan Glen's School
Allan Glen's School was for most of its existence a selective fee-paying independent secondary school for boys in Glasgow, Scotland. It was founded by the Allan Glen's Endowment Scholarship Trust on the death in 1850 of Allan Glen, a successful Glasgow tradesman and businessman, "to give a good...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. He joined Nobel's Explosives Company as an office boy at the age of fifteen and worked his way up to professional manager. During the First World War McGowan carried out a merger of most of the British explosives industry, and in 1918 he became Chairman and Managing Director of Explosives Trade Ltd (from 1920 known as Nobel Industries Ltd). In 1926 this company merged with Brunner Mond
Brunner Mond
Tata Chemicals Europe is a UK-based chemicals company that is a subsidiary of Tata Chemicals Limited, itself a part of the India-based Tata Group...
, the United Alkali Company
United Alkali Company
United Alkali Company Limited was a British chemical company formed in 1890. Producer of soda ash by the Leblanc process and used in the glass, textile, soap, and paper industries. It became one of the top four British chemical companies merged in 1926 with Brunner Mond, Nobel Explosives and...
and the British Dyestuffs Corporation
British Dyestuffs Corporation
British Dyestuffs Corporation Ltd was a British company formed in 1919 from the merger of British Dyes Ltd with Levinstein Ltd. The British Government was the company's largest shareholder, and had two directors on the board....
to form Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries was a British chemical company, taken over by AkzoNobel, a Dutch conglomerate, one of the largest chemical producers in the world. In its heyday, ICI was the largest manufacturing company in the British Empire, and commonly regarded as a "bellwether of the British...
(ICI). He succeeded Lord Melchett
Alfred Mond, 1st Baron Melchett
Alfred Moritz Mond, 1st Baron Melchett PC, FRS , known as Sir Alfred Mond, Bt, between 1910 and 1928, was a British industrialist, financier and politician...
as Chairman and Managing Director in 1930 and remained Chairman until 1950. McGowan was appointed a KBE
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 1928 and in 1937 he was raised to the peerage as Baron McGowan, of Ardeer in the County of Ayr.
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 eldest son Harry.