Harold Mackintosh, 1st Viscount Mackintosh of Halifax
Encyclopedia
Harold Vincent Mackintosh, 1st Viscount Mackintosh of Halifax (June 8 1891, Halifax, West Yorkshire
- December 27 1964, Norwich
) was a British peer.
in North Rhine-Westphalia
, Germany
where he ran a Mackintosh toffee factory, and learnt the language. He was a member of the German international hockey team, prior to the First World War. During the First World War, he joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
.
from 1920 when his father died of a heart attack. The company John Mackintosh & Sons Ltd was floated in March 1921. He was involved in the amalgamation of a group of Halifax building societies into the Halifax Building Society in 1928.
In September 1931, he narrowly avoided merging the company with Rowntrees of York. Both companies already had a joint subsidiary in the Republic of Ireland
.
As a result of a lunchtime meeting at the Savoy Hotel
, he bought the A.J. Caley confectionery company in Norwich from Unilever
in 1932. The Caleys site is now the Chapelfield
shopping centre. This takeover of Caleys helped the Mackintosh company to expand its range of products notably changing its reliance on toffee to products with chocolate toffee such as Quality Street in 1936 and Rolo
. To launch Quality Street, he had a full page advertisement on the front of the Daily Mail
on May 2 1936. His brother Eric managed the Caleys factory. He was Chairman of the National Savings Committee
from 1943, becoming President in 1958. In 1956, under his leadership, National Savings introduced Premium Bond
s. He served as Chancellor of the University of East Anglia
between 1962 and 1964.
, in 1948 he became Lord Mackintosh of Halifax (a barony), and in 1957 he became Viscount Mackintosh of Halifax
. In 1948, he was given an honorary LLD by the University of Leeds
.
On Unthank Road in Norwich is Harold Mackintosh House.
He was a devout Methodist. He was a keen supporter of the Sunday School Movement, becoming President of the National Sunday School Union from May 3 1924 until 1925, then World Sunday School Association. In December 1927 he became President of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society
. In 1960 he became President of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association. From 1942-6, he was President of the Advertising Association. He also supported the British Empire Cancer Campaign. He had a large collection of Toby jugs, and had an extensive knowledge of Ralph Wood and Staffordshire pottery. His son John attended an American university as he felt no British university was prepared to the necessary standard in Business Administration. From 1934-42, he lived at Conynghan Hall near Harrogate
. Then they lived at Greystones in Luddenden
. In 1947, he moved to Thickthorn Hall, south-west of Norwich. He left £218,404 in his will. His wife died in 1975
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
- December 27 1964, Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
) was a British peer.
Early life
He was the son of John and Violet Mackintosh who had a toffee factory on Queens Road in Halifax, then Albion Mills and also in the USA, Canada, Germany and Australia. He was educated at Halifax New School. Instead of going to university, he spent a few years in KrefeldKrefeld
Krefeld , also known as Crefeld until 1929, is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located northwest of Düsseldorf, its centre lying just a few kilometres to the west of the River Rhine; the borough of Uerdingen is situated directly on the Rhine...
in North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
where he ran a Mackintosh toffee factory, and learnt the language. He was a member of the German international hockey team, prior to the First World War. During the First World War, he joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Royal Naval Reserve
The Royal Naval Reserve is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. The present Royal Naval Reserve was formed in 1958 by merging the original Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve , a reserve of civilian volunteers founded in 1903...
.
Career
He was the owner of the confectionary business of John Mackintosh & Sons LtdMackintosh's
Mackintosh's is a confectionery firm that was principally known for Mackintosh's Toffee and for brands such as Quality Street and Rolo.- Origins, Edwardian expansion and War-time contraction :...
from 1920 when his father died of a heart attack. The company John Mackintosh & Sons Ltd was floated in March 1921. He was involved in the amalgamation of a group of Halifax building societies into the Halifax Building Society in 1928.
In September 1931, he narrowly avoided merging the company with Rowntrees of York. Both companies already had a joint subsidiary in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
As a result of a lunchtime meeting at the Savoy Hotel
Savoy Hotel
The Savoy Hotel is a hotel located on the Strand, in the City of Westminster in central London. Built by impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte with profits from his Gilbert and Sullivan operas, the hotel opened on 6 August 1889. It was the first in the Savoy group of hotels and restaurants owned by...
, he bought the A.J. Caley confectionery company in Norwich from Unilever
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
in 1932. The Caleys site is now the Chapelfield
Chapelfield
Chapelfield is a large indoor shopping mall located on the edge of Norwich city centre, on the site previously occupied by the Caleys chocolate factory....
shopping centre. This takeover of Caleys helped the Mackintosh company to expand its range of products notably changing its reliance on toffee to products with chocolate toffee such as Quality Street in 1936 and Rolo
Rolo
Rolo is a brand of truncated-cone-shaped or frustum-shaped chocolates with a caramel centre, the shape resembling that of a shallow inverted bucket or tub or a traditional lampshade. They are made by Nestlé, except in the United States where production has been under licence by The Hershey Company...
. To launch Quality Street, he had a full page advertisement on the front of the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
on May 2 1936. His brother Eric managed the Caleys factory. He was Chairman of the National Savings Committee
National Savings Movement
The National Savings Movement 1916 to 1978 was a British mass savings movement created to raise funds from the public to finance the deficit of government spending over tax revenues. The movement was instrumental during World War II in raising funds to support the war effort. In peacetime the...
from 1943, becoming President in 1958. In 1956, under his leadership, National Savings introduced Premium Bond
Premium Bond
A Premium Bond is a lottery bond issued by the United Kingdom government's National Savings and Investments scheme. The government promises to buy back the bond, on request, for its original price. They were introduced by Harold Macmillan in his 1956 budget....
s. He served as Chancellor of the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
between 1962 and 1964.
Recognition
In 1922, he was knighted when he was 31, one of the youngest ever people to be knighted for his work with Sunday schools. In 1935 he was made a baronetBaronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
, in 1948 he became Lord Mackintosh of Halifax (a barony), and in 1957 he became Viscount Mackintosh of Halifax
Viscount Mackintosh of Halifax
Viscount Mackintosh of Halifax, of Hethersett in the County of Norfolk, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1957 for the businessman and public servant Harold Mackintosh, 1st Baron Mackintosh of Halifax. He was the owner of the confectionery business of John...
. In 1948, he was given an honorary LLD by the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
.
On Unthank Road in Norwich is Harold Mackintosh House.
Personal life
In 1916, he married Constance Emily Stoneham. She was born on the same day as him, and they had three children: Harold, John (born October 7 1921) and Mary.He was a devout Methodist. He was a keen supporter of the Sunday School Movement, becoming President of the National Sunday School Union from May 3 1924 until 1925, then World Sunday School Association. In December 1927 he became President of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society
Yorkshire Agricultural Society
Yorkshire Agricultural Society is a charity based at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. The society is best known as the organiser of the two annual country events, the Great Yorkshire Show and the Countryside Live. It is committed to working for the...
. In 1960 he became President of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association. From 1942-6, he was President of the Advertising Association. He also supported the British Empire Cancer Campaign. He had a large collection of Toby jugs, and had an extensive knowledge of Ralph Wood and Staffordshire pottery. His son John attended an American university as he felt no British university was prepared to the necessary standard in Business Administration. From 1934-42, he lived at Conynghan Hall near Harrogate
Harrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
. Then they lived at Greystones in Luddenden
Luddenden
Luddenden is a district of Calderdale west of Halifax on the river Ludd in the county of West Yorkshire, England.The name means Ludd valley, or valley of the loud stream and refers to the Luddenden Brook....
. In 1947, he moved to Thickthorn Hall, south-west of Norwich. He left £218,404 in his will. His wife died in 1975