Percy Bates
Encyclopedia
Sir Percy Elly Bates, 4th Baronet, GBE
(12 May 1879 – 16 October 1946) was an English
shipowner.
Bates was born in Wavertree
, Liverpool
, the second son of Sir Edward Percy Bates, 2nd Baronet. He was educated at Winchester College
from 1892 to 1897 and was then apprenticed to William Johnston & Co, a Liverpool shipowners. After his father's death in 1899 he joined the family shipping business, Edward Bates & Sons.
He succeeded his older brother, Edward, as 4th Baronet in 1903. In 1910 he became a director
of Cunard
, becoming deputy chairman in 1922 and chairman in 1930, holding the post until his death. He became a director of the Morning Post
in 1924 and chairman in 1930, holding the post until 1937.
On the outbreak of the First World War Bates joined the Transport Department of the Admiralty
, and later became Director of Commercial Services of the new Ministry of Shipping, responsible for the shipment of civilian supplies. For these services he was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
(GBE) in the 1920 Birthday Honours. He was also appointed in 1920 High Sheriff of Cheshire
. In the Second World War he served on the Advisory Committee and the Liner Committee of the Ministry of War Transport.
Bates's only child, also Percy, was killed over Germany
in 1945 while serving as a Pilot Officer
with the Royal Air Force
. Bates suffered a heart attack in his office on 14 October 1946 and died at his home, Hinderton Hall
, Neston, Cheshire
, two days later on the day of the Queen Elizabeth
s maiden commercial voyage, on which he was to have sailed.
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...
(12 May 1879 – 16 October 1946) 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...
shipowner.
Bates was born in Wavertree
Wavertree
Wavertree is an area of Liverpool, in Merseyside, England, and is a Liverpool City Council ward. It is bordered by a number of districts to the south and east of Liverpool city centre from Toxteth, Edge Hill, Fairfield, Old Swan, Childwall and Mossley Hill....
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, the second son of Sir Edward Percy Bates, 2nd Baronet. He was educated at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
from 1892 to 1897 and was then apprenticed to William Johnston & Co, a Liverpool shipowners. After his father's death in 1899 he joined the family shipping business, Edward Bates & Sons.
He succeeded his older brother, Edward, as 4th Baronet in 1903. In 1910 he became a director
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Cunard
Cunard Line
Cunard Line is a British-American owned shipping company based at Carnival House in Southampton, England and operated by Carnival UK. It has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic for over a century...
, becoming deputy chairman in 1922 and chairman in 1930, holding the post until his death. He became a director of the Morning Post
Morning Post
The Morning Post, as the paper was named on its masthead, was a conservative daily newspaper published in London from 1772 to 1937, when it was acquired by The Daily Telegraph.- History :...
in 1924 and chairman in 1930, holding the post until 1937.
On the outbreak of the First World War Bates joined the Transport Department of the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
, and later became Director of Commercial Services of the new Ministry of Shipping, responsible for the shipment of civilian supplies. For these services he was appointed 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...
(GBE) in the 1920 Birthday Honours. He was also appointed in 1920 High Sheriff of Cheshire
High Sheriff of Cheshire
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
. In the Second World War he served on the Advisory Committee and the Liner Committee of the Ministry of War Transport.
Bates's only child, also Percy, was killed over Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1945 while serving as a Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
with the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. Bates suffered a heart attack in his office on 14 October 1946 and died at his home, Hinderton Hall
Hinderton Hall
Hinderton Hall is a former country house, standing to the northeast of Neston, Cheshire, England. It was built in 1856 for Christopher Bushell, a Liverpool wine merchant. The architect was Alfred Waterhouse. It was "an exceptionally early work", designed before his first major commission, the...
, Neston, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, two days later on the day of the Queen Elizabeth
RMS Queen Elizabeth
RMS Queen Elizabeth was an ocean liner operated by the Cunard Line. Plying with her running mate Queen Mary as a luxury liner between Southampton, UK and New York City, USA via Cherbourg, France, she was also contracted for over twenty years to carry the Royal Mail as the second half of the two...
s maiden commercial voyage, on which he was to have sailed.