Harry McGowan, 1st Baron McGowan

The Lord McGowan
The Right Honourable; The Lord McGowan; KBE
Chairman - Imperial Chemical Industries
	In office; 1930–1950
Preceded by	Alfred Mond, 1st Baron Melchett
Succeeded by	Lord Fleck
Personal details
Born	3 June 1874
Died	13 July 1961 (aged 87); London
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	Lady Jean Boyle Young
Children	Hon. Agnes Wilson McGowan; Hon. Isobel Young McGowan; Lord Harry Wilson McGowan, 2nd Baron McGowan; Hon. William Johnston McGowan;
Parents	Henry McGowan Esq.; Agnes Wilson;
Alma mater	Hutchesons' Grammar School; LL.D. St. Andrews University[1];

Harry Duncan McGowan, 1st Baron McGowan KBE (3 June 1874 – 13 July 1961) LLD DCL, was a prominent British industrialist who served as Chairman of Imperial Chemical Industries for 20 years.

Early life and education

McGowan was the only son of Henry McGowan Esq. and his wife Agnes (née Wilson). He was educated at Hutchesons' Grammar School, an independent school in Glasgow and Allan Glen's School. He joined the Nobel Explosives Company, the company founded by Alfred Nobel, as an executive officer. In 1918 he became Chairman and Managing Director of Explosives Trade Ltd (from 1920 known as Nobel Industries Ltd), a position he held until the formation of ICI.

Business career

In 1926 Nobel Industries merged with Brunner Mond, the United Alkali Company and the British Dyestuffs Corporation to form Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). The merger, orchestrated by Alfred Mond, 1st Baron Melchett and McGowan, created one of the world's largest industrial corporations at the time.[2][3] McGowan succeeded Lord Melchett as Chairman and Managing Director in 1930 and remained Chairman until 1950. McGowan was appointed a KBE in 1928 and on 24 February 1937 he was raised to the peerage as Baron McGowan, of Ardeer in the County of Ayr.[4]

Lord McGowan married Jean, daughter of William Young, in 1903. They had two sons and two daughters. He died in July 1961, aged 87, and was succeeded in the barony by his elder son Harry.

Coat of arms

Coat of arms of Harry McGowan, 1st Baron McGowan
	Coronet A coronet of a Baron Crest A Tower Or between two Horseshoes proper Escutcheon Quarterly: Per saltire Argent and Azure two Lions rampant in pale Gules and as many Horseshoes in fess proper Supporters Dexter: a Figure representing St Barbara proper holding in the exterior hand a Tower Or; Sinister: a Figure representing St Kentigern proper holding in the exterior hand his Crozier Or Motto Juncta Juvant (Union is strength)

References

Burke's Peerage, 1970, p. 1697.
Greenaway, Frank (2004) 'Mond family (per. 1867–1973)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press. Retrieved on 9 March 2007.
"Mond, Alfred Moritz". Who's Who. Vol. 59. 1907. p. 1241.
"No. 34375". The London Gazette. 26 February 1937. p. 1324.

Oxbury, Harold. Great Britons: Twentieth Century Lives. Promotional Reprint Company, 1993.
Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages

External links

Newspaper clippings about Harry McGowan, 1st Baron McGowan in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW

Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by New creation	Baron McGowan 1937–1961	Succeeded by Harry McGowan

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[1] Burke's Peerage, 1970, p. 1697.

[dnb-2] Greenaway, Frank (2004) 'Mond family (per. 1867–1973)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press. Retrieved on 9 March 2007.

[3] "Mond, Alfred Moritz". Who's Who. Vol. 59. 1907. p. 1241.

[4] "No. 34375". The London Gazette. 26 February 1937. p. 1324.