Peter Gadsden facts for kids

Sir Peter Drury Haggerston Gadsden (born June 28, 1929 – died December 4, 2006) was a remarkable man. He was born in Canada but became a British engineer and a successful international trader. He held a very important position as the 652nd Lord Mayor of London from 1979 to 1980. This role is like being the main leader of the historic City of London.

Early Life and Education

Peter Gadsden was born in Mannville, Alberta, Canada. His father, Basil Claude Gadsden, was a priest, and his mother was Mabel Florence Drury. Peter was the oldest of their three children. His father had worked in Australia and also in the East End of London.

When Peter was five years old, his family moved back to England. He grew up in a rectory, which is a house where a priest lives, in Shropshire. He went to several schools: Rockport School in County Down, The Elms School in Worcestershire, and Wrekin College in Shropshire. At Wrekin College, he was the head boy, meaning he was a student leader.

After school, he completed his National Service, which was a period of military training. He served in the King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Later, he went to Jesus College, Cambridge to study geology and mineralogy. This means he learned about rocks, minerals, and the Earth's structure.

A Busy Career in Business

In 1952, after finishing college, Peter Gadsden started working at Fergusson Wild & Co. He became a minerals trader, which meant he bought and sold valuable minerals. People knew him as "Trader Gadsden" because he was so good at it.

In the 1960s, he started his own business to advise others on minerals. He also became the managing director in London for an Australian mining company called Murphyores. A managing director is a top leader in a company. He had many other business interests too.

Peter Gadsden was highly respected in his field. He was an honorary Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy. He was also a member of the London Metal Exchange, a place where metals are traded. He was an underwriter at Lloyd's of London, which means he helped provide insurance for big risks.

Serving the City of London

Peter Gadsden was a member of seven livery companies. These are ancient trade associations in the City of London. One of them was the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers, and he also helped start the Worshipful Company of Engineers. He was the first leader of the Engineers' company from 1983 to 1985.

In 1969, Peter Gadsden was elected to the Court of Common Council for the area called Cripplegate. This council helps run the City of London. In 1970, he was appointed Sheriff of the City of London. A year later, he became an alderman for the area of Farringdon Without. He stayed in this important role until 1999.

Peter Gadsden became the Lord Mayor of London in 1979, when he was 50 years old. This is a very old and respected position. During his time as Lord Mayor, he was given a special honor: he became a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE). He decided to have a fireworks display over the River Thames as the grand finale for the Lord Mayor's Show. This fireworks display has now become a regular and exciting part of the event every year.

Connecting Nations

From 1984 to 1996, Peter Gadsden was the chairman of Private Patients Plan, a healthcare company. After that, he led the PPP Healthcare Foundation until he passed away.

He was also a past chairman and vice-president of the Britain–Australia Society. This group works to build strong connections between Britain and Australia. He led the Britain-Australia Bicentennial Committee, which celebrated Australia's 200th birthday in 1988. For his efforts, he received an honorary Companion of the Order of Australia. This is Australia's highest honor for civilians.

Even though he lived in the United Kingdom, Peter Gadsden kept his Canadian citizenship and passport. He worked hard to make the ties between Canada and Britain even stronger.

Family and Legacy

In 1955, Peter Gadsden married Belinda Ann Haggerston. She was the oldest daughter of Sir Carnaby Haggerston, a Baronet (a person with a special title). They had four daughters. In 1973, after his father-in-law died, Peter added "Haggerston" to his own last name.

Peter Gadsden passed away from a heart attack in Middleton Scriven, Shropshire, when he was 77 years old.

A book about his life, called Thoroughly with Enthusiasm, was written by Ina Taylor and published in 2004.