Sir William Wiseman, 10th Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir William George Eden Wiseman, 10th Baronet (1 February 1885 – 17 June 1962) was a British
intelligence agent and banker. He was a general partner at American investment bank Kuhn, Loeb & Co.
from 1929 till 1960.
, a British naval officer, he received his education at Winchester College
and Jesus College, Cambridge
. As a businessman before the outbreak of World War I
he was Chairman in London of Hendens Trust. From 1914 he served as a Lieutenant Colonel
with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
but, following injury, transferred to military intelligence. He was sent by Secret Intelligence Service
director, Mansfield Smith-Cumming
, to establish the agency's office in New York
, 'Section V'. As the head of the British intelligence mission in the United States, Wiseman was extensively involved in the counter-intelligence against the Indian sedetionists
and was ultimately responsible for leaking to New York Police
, bypassing diplomatic channels, the details of a bomb plot that led to the uncovering of the Hindu Conspiracy.
He acted as a liaison between Woodrow Wilson
and the British government. He and his associate General Julius Klein were closely associated with Special Advisor to Wilson Colonel Edward M. House
. Wiseman was also a mentor to spy chief William Stephenson
. After the war, was a participant in the 1919 Paris Peace Conference
. He remained in the U.S. as an employee of Kuhn Loeb, becoming a partner in 1929.
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...
intelligence agent and banker. He was a general partner at American investment bank Kuhn, Loeb & Co.
Kuhn, Loeb & Co.
Kuhn, Loeb & Co. was a bulge bracket, investment bank founded in 1867 by Abraham Kuhn and Solomon Loeb. Under the leadership of Jacob H. Schiff, it grew to be one of the most influential investment banks in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, financing America's expanding railways and growth...
from 1929 till 1960.
Biography
The grandson of Sir William Wiseman, 8th BaronetSir William Wiseman, 8th Baronet
Rear Admiral Sir William Saltonstall Wiseman, 8th Baronet KCB was a British naval officer.- Naval career :...
, a British naval officer, he received his education 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...
and Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
. As a businessman before the outbreak of 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...
he was Chairman in London of Hendens Trust. From 1914 he served as a Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. Its lineage is continued today by The Rifles....
but, following injury, transferred to military intelligence. He was sent by Secret Intelligence Service
Secret Intelligence Service
The Secret Intelligence Service is responsible for supplying the British Government with foreign intelligence. Alongside the internal Security Service , the Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence Intelligence , it operates under the formal direction of the Joint Intelligence...
director, Mansfield Smith-Cumming
Mansfield Smith-Cumming
Captain Sir George Mansfield Smith-Cumming, KCMG, CB was the first director of what would become the Secret Intelligence Service , also known as MI6...
, to establish the agency's office in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, 'Section V'. As the head of the British intelligence mission in the United States, Wiseman was extensively involved in the counter-intelligence against the Indian sedetionists
Ghadar Conspiracy
The Ghadar Conspiracy was a conspiracy for a pan-Indian mutiny in the British Indian Army in February 1915 formulated by the Ghadar Party...
and was ultimately responsible for leaking to New York Police
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
, bypassing diplomatic channels, the details of a bomb plot that led to the uncovering of the Hindu Conspiracy.
He acted as a liaison between Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
and the British government. He and his associate General Julius Klein were closely associated with Special Advisor to Wilson Colonel Edward M. House
Edward M. House
Edward Mandell House was an American diplomat, politician, and presidential advisor. Commonly known by the title of Colonel House, although he had no military experience, he had enormous personal influence with U.S...
. Wiseman was also a mentor to spy chief William Stephenson
William Stephenson
Sir William Samuel Stephenson, CC, MC, DFC was a Canadian soldier, airman, businessman, inventor, spymaster, and the senior representative of British intelligence for the entire western hemisphere during World War II. He is best known by his wartime intelligence codename Intrepid...
. After the war, was a participant in the 1919 Paris Peace Conference
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
. He remained in the U.S. as an employee of Kuhn Loeb, becoming a partner in 1929.