Arthur Sutherland
Encyclopedia
Sir Arthur Munro Sutherland, 1st Baronet KBE
(2 October 1867 – 29 March 1953), of Hethpool House, Kirknewton
, Northumberland
, was an English
shipowner and philanthropist
.
Sutherland was the son of Benjamin John Sutherland, a shipping merchant of Thurso House, Newcastle upon Tyne
. He was educated at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle
and in 1884 joined the shipbrokers Lindsay, Gracie & Co as a clerk. He left to open a steamer department in his father's firm, later turning it into a successful cargo shipping business, B. J. Sutherland & Co. He was chairman of that firm and several other shipping operators.
In 1910 Sutherland was elected to Newcastle City Council
and served as Sheriff
of Newcastle in 1916–1917 and Lord Mayor
of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1918–1919.. He was also a Justice of the Peace
for the city for many years and chairman of the governors of his old school, to which he donated considerable sums of money. In 1936, the Durham University College of Medicine and Armstrong College
were about to merge to form King's College in the University of Durham and he donated £200,000 to establish a new Medical school at the newly-named King's College, Newcastle upon Tyne, now the equivalent to £6 million. Later he gave £50,000 to develop the Dental school which had been founded in 1895, which was named the Sutherland Dental School in his honour, and afterwards used his coat of arms and motto Sans Peur (Fearless) as its badge. He served as High Sheriff of Northumberland
in 1943.
In 1943 Sutherland, a director of the Blyth Dry Docks and Shipbuilding Company, was charged alongside his friend and neighbour, Newcastle Alderman Robert Stanley Dalgleish, managing director of the company, with conspiring to bribe Admiralty
official Charles James Butt. After a five-day trial at Leeds, Sutherland was found not guilty; Dalgleish and Butt were convicted and gaoled. Sutherland was the last private owner of Dunstanburgh Castle
which he donated to the nation in 1929. He bequeathed his town house, Thurso House, in Newcastle upon Tyne to the city for use as new Mansion House, after using it as a home to entertain lavish parties. Sutherland also owned many properties in London. He once owned Close House, Northumberland
.
Sutherland was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 1920 civilian war honours and created a Baronet
in the 1921 Birthday Honours.
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...
(2 October 1867 – 29 March 1953), of Hethpool House, Kirknewton
Hethpool House, Kirknewton
Hethpool House is an Edwardian house at Kirknewton, near Wooler, Northumberland which has Grade II listed building status. Built in 1919 on the site of a late 17th century house which had been the seat of Admiral Lord Collingwood, it was improved in the Arts and crafts style in 1928 for Sir Arthur...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
shipowner and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
.
Sutherland was the son of Benjamin John Sutherland, a shipping merchant of Thurso House, Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
. He was educated at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle
Royal Grammar School, Newcastle
Royal Grammar School Newcastle upon Tyne, known locally and often abbreviated as RGS, is a long-established co-educational, independent school in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It gained its Royal Charter under Queen Elizabeth I...
and in 1884 joined the shipbrokers Lindsay, Gracie & Co as a clerk. He left to open a steamer department in his father's firm, later turning it into a successful cargo shipping business, B. J. Sutherland & Co. He was chairman of that firm and several other shipping operators.
In 1910 Sutherland was elected to Newcastle City Council
Newcastle City Council
Newcastle City Council is the local government authority for Newcastle upon Tyne, a city in Tyne and Wear, England. The council consists of 78 councillors, three for each of the city's 26 wards...
and served as Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Newcastle in 1916–1917 and Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1918–1919.. He was also a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for the city for many years and chairman of the governors of his old school, to which he donated considerable sums of money. In 1936, the Durham University College of Medicine and Armstrong College
Armstrong College
Armstrong College may refer to:* Armstrong Atlantic State University, formerly known as Armstrong College* Armstrong College, a former college of Durham University* Armstrong College, a former college in Berkeley, California...
were about to merge to form King's College in the University of Durham and he donated £200,000 to establish a new Medical school at the newly-named King's College, Newcastle upon Tyne, now the equivalent to £6 million. Later he gave £50,000 to develop the Dental school which had been founded in 1895, which was named the Sutherland Dental School in his honour, and afterwards used his coat of arms and motto Sans Peur (Fearless) as its badge. He served as High Sheriff of Northumberland
High Sheriff of Northumberland
This is a list of the High Sheriffs of the English county of Northumberland.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post...
in 1943.
In 1943 Sutherland, a director of the Blyth Dry Docks and Shipbuilding Company, was charged alongside his friend and neighbour, Newcastle Alderman Robert Stanley Dalgleish, managing director of the company, with conspiring to bribe Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
official Charles James Butt. After a five-day trial at Leeds, Sutherland was found not guilty; Dalgleish and Butt were convicted and gaoled. Sutherland was the last private owner of Dunstanburgh Castle
Dunstanburgh Castle
Dunstanburgh Castle lies on a spectacular headland on the coast of Northumberland in northern England, between the villages of Craster and Embleton....
which he donated to the nation in 1929. He bequeathed his town house, Thurso House, in Newcastle upon Tyne to the city for use as new Mansion House, after using it as a home to entertain lavish parties. Sutherland also owned many properties in London. He once owned Close House, Northumberland
Close House, Northumberland
Close House is a Grade II* listed former mansion house, now a hotel and country club near Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland.A monastic house occupied the site in the 14th century...
.
Sutherland was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 1920 civilian war honours and created a Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in the 1921 Birthday Honours.