Hardman Lever
Encyclopedia
Sir Samuel Hardman Lever, 1st Baronet, KCB
(18 April 1869–1 July 1947), generally known as Sir Hardman Lever, and as "Sammie" to his friends, was an English
accountant
and civil servant.
Lever was born in Bootle
, Lancashire
, and was educated at Merchant Taylors' School
. He qualified as a chartered accountant
in 1890. He worked as an accountant in Liverpool
, New York City
and London
.
In August 1915, he was appointed Assistant Financial Secretary at the Ministry of Munitions
, where he was in charge of contracts and finance. At the end of 1916, he was appointed Financial Secretary to the Treasury
, usually a political office, and nominally held the post until 1921. From 1917 he held the post jointly with Stanley Baldwin
and after 1919 left most of the duties to the latter.
He also served as an Assistant Commissioner for Finance in the United States
, 1917–1918, Treasury
Representative at the Ministry of Transport
, 1919–1921, a member of Weir
Committee on Electricity which led to the establishment of the National Grid, and Chairman of the Telegraph Committee of Enquiry. He also headed Air Missions to Canada in 1938, and to Australia and New Zealand in 1939.
He was knighted as Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
(KCB) in 1917 and created a Baronet
in the 1920 New Year Honours. He was also awarded the Legion of Honour and the Order of the Crown of Italy
.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(18 April 1869–1 July 1947), generally known as Sir Hardman Lever, and as "Sammie" to his friends, 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...
accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
and civil servant.
Lever was born in Bootle
Bootle
Bootle is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England, and a 'Post town' in the L postcode area. Formally known as Bootle-cum-Linacre, the town is 4 miles to the north of Liverpool city centre, and has a total resident population of 77,640.Historically part of...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, and was educated at Merchant Taylors' School
Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby
Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby is a British independent school for day pupils, located in Great Crosby on Merseyside....
. He qualified as a chartered accountant
Chartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
in 1890. He worked as an accountant in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
In August 1915, he was appointed Assistant Financial Secretary at the Ministry of Munitions
Minister of Munitions
The Minister of Munitions was a British government position created during the First World War to oversee and co-ordinate the production and distribution of munitions for the war effort...
, where he was in charge of contracts and finance. At the end of 1916, he was appointed Financial Secretary to the Treasury
Financial Secretary to the Treasury
Financial Secretary to the Treasury is a junior Ministerial post in the British Treasury. It is the 4th most significant Ministerial role within the Treasury after the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and the Paymaster General...
, usually a political office, and nominally held the post until 1921. From 1917 he held the post jointly with Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
and after 1919 left most of the duties to the latter.
He also served as an Assistant Commissioner for Finance in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 1917–1918, Treasury
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
Representative at the Ministry of Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
, 1919–1921, a member of Weir
William Douglas Weir
William Douglas Weir, 1st Viscount Weir GCB PC was a Scottish industrialist and politician, who served as President of the Air Council in 1918.-Early life:...
Committee on Electricity which led to the establishment of the National Grid, and Chairman of the Telegraph Committee of Enquiry. He also headed Air Missions to Canada in 1938, and to Australia and New Zealand in 1939.
He was knighted as Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(KCB) in 1917 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 1920 New Year Honours. He was also awarded the Legion of Honour and the Order of the Crown of Italy
Order of the Crown of Italy
The Order of the Crown of Italy was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Vittorio Emanuele II, to commemorate the unification of Italy in 1861...
.