Alan Anderson (British public servant) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Alan Anderson
GBE DL
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Anderson in 1918.
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| Member of Parliament for City of London |
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| In office 1935–1940 |
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| Preceded by | Edward Grenfell Sir Vansittart Bowater, Bt. |
| Succeeded by | Sir George Broadbridge, Bt Andrew Duncan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Alan Garrett Anderson
9 March 1877 |
| Died | 4 May 1952 (aged 75) |
| Spouse | Muriel Duncan |
| Children | 4 |
| Parents | Elizabeth Garrett Anderson James Anderson |
| Relatives | Louisa Garrett Anderson (sister) |
| Education | Eton (1890 & 1895) Trinity College, Oxford (1896) |
| Occupation | Civil servant, shipowner |
Sir Alan Garrett Anderson (born March 9, 1877 – died May 4, 1952) was an important British figure. He worked for the government, was a politician, and owned a big shipping company. He helped his country during both World War I and World War II.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Sir Alan Anderson was born in 1877. His father, James Anderson, was a very successful shipowner. He combined his family's shipping business with another company in 1878. This created the Orient Steam Navigation Company, which owned many ships.
Alan's mother, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, was also very famous. She was the first woman in England to become a qualified doctor! Alan was one of three children. His sister, Louisa Garrett Anderson, also became a doctor. She even ran a military hospital during World War I.
Alan went to Eton College and Trinity College, Oxford. After finishing his education, he joined his father's shipping business in 1897. He later became involved in railways too. In 1911, he became a director of the Midland Railway. He stayed in this role even after it merged with another company in 1923, forming the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.
Helping During World War I
During World War I, Sir Alan used his business skills to help the British government.
Managing Food Supplies
He was made vice-chairman of a special group called the Royal Commission. This group was in charge of making sure Britain had enough wheat. He worked with Britain's allies, especially the United States and Canada, to manage food supplies.
Overseeing Ship Production
In 1917, Sir Alan took on a very important job. He became the Admiralty Controller. This meant he was in charge of building and repairing ships for both the Royal Navy and merchant ships. These ships were being attacked by enemy submarines, so building new ones was vital.
It was a tough job because there weren't enough materials or workers. Sir Alan worked hard to solve these problems. He even suggested new ways to find more shipbuilders. He resigned from this role in 1918.
Awards for His Service
Even with these challenges, Sir Alan was recognized for his hard work. In 1917, he received several important awards:
- He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in Britain.
- He received the Officer of the Légion d'honneur from France.
- He received the Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy from Italy.
After the War
After World War I, Sir Alan continued to expand his career. He became a powerful figure in finance.
Working with the Bank of England
Even though he didn't have much banking experience, he joined the board of the Bank of England in 1918. He stayed there until 1946. From 1925 to 1926, he was the Deputy Governor. This was a very important role in the country's financial system.
In 1924, he traveled to New York to help decide if Britain should return to the gold standard. This was a system where a country's money was directly linked to a certain amount of gold.
Expanding Shipping Business
His shipping business also grew. In 1919, a major shipping company called Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) bought a large part of the Orient Steam Navigation Company. Sir Alan's family company then merged with another, forming Anderson, Green & Co. He became a board member of both P&O and the British-India Steam Navigation Company.
Public Service and Hospitals
Sir Alan also continued to serve the public. He led two government investigations: one about training naval officers and another about civil servants' pay. He also helped with a royal commission looking into national debt.
He was very involved with the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Obstetric Hospital, which was named after his mother. He also stayed active with the London School of Medicine for Women and the Royal Free Hospital, which his mother had helped to start.
In 1930, he was given an honorary rank of captain in the Royal Naval Reserve. In 1934, he received an even higher honor, becoming a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE).
Member of Parliament and World War II
In 1935, Sir Alan decided to become a politician.
Becoming an MP
He ran as a candidate for the Conservative Party to represent the City of London in Parliament. He was first elected in June 1935 and then again in the general election that November. He became a Member of Parliament (MP).
Helping During World War II
He resigned from Parliament in 1940 to focus on helping Britain during World War II.
- In 1938, he became the chairman of the Cereals Control Board, which managed grain supplies.
- In 1941, he became the Controller of Railways and chairman of the Railway Executive. This meant he was in charge of all the railways in Britain during the war.
He also held an honorary rank as a Colonel in a Territorial Army unit until 1949.
Personal Life
On June 9, 1903, Sir Alan married Muriel Ivy Duncan. They had four children. Two of his sons, Sir Donald Forsyth Anderson and Sir Colin Skelton Anderson, followed in his footsteps and also worked in the shipping industry. Sir Alan Anderson passed away on May 4, 1952.
See Also
Images for kids
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Anderson in 1918.
