William Fraser, 1st Baron Strathalmond
Encyclopedia
William Fraser, 1st Baron Strathalmond, MBE
(3 November, 1888-1 April, 1970), was a Scottish
businessman and a leading expert on the oil industry. He served as chairman of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company
(known as BP
from 1954) from 1941 to 1956.
Fraser was the second son of William Fraser, of Glasgow
, the founder of the Pumpherston Oil Company, and his wife Janet Loch. He joined his father's firm in 1909 and became a director in 1913 and joint managing director in 1915. He was awarded the MBE
in 1918 for his work in increasing oil supply during the First World War. Fraser joined the board of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company
in 1923. He became deputy chairman (to John Cadman
) in 1928, and played a great role in expanding the oil production in Iran
, Iraq
and Kuwait
, becoming known as a leading expert on Middle East
oil. In 1941 he succeeded Cadman as chairman, a post he retained until 1956 (the firm was renamed the British Petroleum Company
in 1954). Fraser was also an adviser on oil affairs to the British government for many years, notably as petroleum adviser to the War Office
and as chairman of the Oil Advisory Committee. He was knighted in 1939 and in 1955 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Strathalmond, of Pumpherston in the County of Midlothian.
Lord Strathalmond married Mary Roberton McLintock, daughter of Thomas McLintock, in 1913. They had one son and one daughter. Lord Strathalmond died in April 1970, aged 81. He was succeeded in the barony by his only son William.
He is buried in Putney Vale Cemetery
.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
(3 November, 1888-1 April, 1970), was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
businessman and a leading expert on the oil industry. He served as chairman of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company
Anglo-Persian Oil Company
The Anglo-Persian Oil Company was founded in 1908 following the discovery of a large oil field in Masjed Soleiman, Iran. It was the first company to extract petroleum from the Middle East...
(known as BP
BP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
from 1954) from 1941 to 1956.
Fraser was the second son of William Fraser, of 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...
, the founder of the Pumpherston Oil Company, and his wife Janet Loch. He joined his father's firm in 1909 and became a director in 1913 and joint managing director in 1915. He was awarded the MBE
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 1918 for his work in increasing oil supply during the First World War. Fraser joined the board of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company
Anglo-Persian Oil Company
The Anglo-Persian Oil Company was founded in 1908 following the discovery of a large oil field in Masjed Soleiman, Iran. It was the first company to extract petroleum from the Middle East...
in 1923. He became deputy chairman (to John Cadman
John Cadman, 1st Baron Cadman
John Cadman, 1st Baron Cadman FRS, GCMG was a British mining engineer, petroleum technologist and public servant.-Early life:...
) in 1928, and played a great role in expanding the oil production in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
, becoming known as a leading expert on Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
oil. In 1941 he succeeded Cadman as chairman, a post he retained until 1956 (the firm was renamed the British Petroleum Company
BP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
in 1954). Fraser was also an adviser on oil affairs to the British government for many years, notably as petroleum adviser to 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 as chairman of the Oil Advisory Committee. He was knighted in 1939 and in 1955 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Strathalmond, of Pumpherston in the County of Midlothian.
Lord Strathalmond married Mary Roberton McLintock, daughter of Thomas McLintock, in 1913. They had one son and one daughter. Lord Strathalmond died in April 1970, aged 81. He was succeeded in the barony by his only son William.
He is buried in Putney Vale Cemetery
Putney Vale Cemetery
Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium in London is surrounded by Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park, and is located within forty-seven acres of parkland. The cemetery was opened in 1891 and the crematorium in 1938...
.