Robert Waley Cohen
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Waley Cohen, KBE
(8 September 1877 - 27 November 1952) was a British
industrialist and prominent leader of Anglo
-Jewry.
and a cousin of Arthur Waley
. (His son was Sir Bernard Waley-Cohen
.) He was educated at Clifton College
and Emmanuel College, Cambridge
.
Company, 1901 and negotiated its merger with the Royal Dutch Oil Company, 1906. He was a director of the merged company and chief assistant to its managing director.
He was the petroleum adviser to the Army Council during World War I
, for which he received a KBE
, 1920. He retired from Shell in 1928 but became chairman of the African and Eastern Company in 1929. He negotiated a merger with the Niger Company into the United Africa Company, 1929; resigned 1931.
Although he was generally opposed to Zionism
, he was the main creator of the Palestine Corporation (a conglomerate with various diverse business interests. He was Vice-Chairman of University College, London and President of the United Synagogue
.
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...
(8 September 1877 - 27 November 1952) was a British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
industrialist and prominent leader of Anglo
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
-Jewry.
Early life
He came from a prominent Jewish family, being the grandson of Jacob WaleyJacob Waley
Jacob Waley , was an English legal writer.Waley, born in 1818, was elder son of Solomon Jacob Waley of Stockwell, and afterwards of 22 Devonshire Place, London, by his wife, Rachel Hort. Simon Waley Waley [q. v.] was his younger brother. He was educated at Mr. Neumegen's school at Highgate, and...
and a cousin of Arthur Waley
Arthur Waley
Arthur David Waley CH, CBE was an English orientalist and sinologist.-Life:Waley was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, as Arthur David Schloss, son of the economist David Frederick Schloss...
. (His son was Sir Bernard Waley-Cohen
Bernard Waley-Cohen
Sir Bernard Nathaniel Waley-Cohen, 1st Baronet , was a British businessman. He was Lord Mayor of London in 1960. He was educated at Clifton College where he was a member of Polacks....
.) He was educated at Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
and Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
.
Career
He joined the ShellRoyal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
Company, 1901 and negotiated its merger with the Royal Dutch Oil Company, 1906. He was a director of the merged company and chief assistant to its managing director.
He was the petroleum adviser to the Army Council 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...
, for which he received 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...
, 1920. He retired from Shell in 1928 but became chairman of the African and Eastern Company in 1929. He negotiated a merger with the Niger Company into the United Africa Company, 1929; resigned 1931.
Although he was generally opposed to Zionism
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
, he was the main creator of the Palestine Corporation (a conglomerate with various diverse business interests. He was Vice-Chairman of University College, London and President of the United Synagogue
United Synagogue
United Synagogue is an organisation of London Jews that was founded with the sanction of an Act of Parliament, in 1870. , it remains the largest religious grouping within the British Jewish community and indeed in Europe, covering 62 Orthodox Jewish communities...
.
External links
- http://www.chemistry.org.il/booklet/15/pdf/bob.pdf Royal Dutch/Shell Group and Sir Robert Waley Cohen; Chemistry in Israel, Bull. Isr. Chem. Soc., Issue 15, Apr. 2004, p 35-38.