Robert Sinclair, 1st Baron Sinclair of Cleeve
Encyclopedia
Robert John Sinclair, 1st Baron Sinclair of Cleeve (29 July 1893-4 March 1979), was a British
businessman and public servant.
Sinclair was the son of Robert Henry Sinclair. He was originally a tobacco
wholesaler in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. This firm was acquired by the Imperial Tobacco Company in 1930, of which company Sinclair was later Chairman of from 1947 to 1959 and President of. He was also Chairman of the Finance Corporation for Industry and of the Bristol Waterworks Company. During the Second World War Sinclair served as Director-General of Army Requirements at the War Office
from 1939 to 1942 and as Chief Executive at the Ministry of Production
from 1943 to 1945. After the war he was President of the Federation of British Industries
from 1949 to 1951, a Member of the Security Commission from 1966 to 1977 and Pro-Chancellor of Bristol University from 1946 to 1970. He also held the honorary post of High Sheriff
of Somerset
. In 1957 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Sinclair of Cleeve, of Cleeve in the County of Somerset.
Lord Sinclair of Cleeve died in March 1979, aged 85, and was succeeded in the barony by his son John.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
businessman and public servant.
Sinclair was the son of Robert Henry Sinclair. He was originally a tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
wholesaler in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. This firm was acquired by the Imperial Tobacco Company in 1930, of which company Sinclair was later Chairman of from 1947 to 1959 and President of. He was also Chairman of the Finance Corporation for Industry and of the Bristol Waterworks Company. During the Second World War Sinclair served as Director-General of Army Requirements at the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
from 1939 to 1942 and as Chief Executive at the Ministry of Production
Ministry of Production
The Ministry of Production was a British government department created in February 1942, initially under the title Ministry of War Production, but the following month "War" was dropped from the title...
from 1943 to 1945. After the war he was President of the Federation of British Industries
Federation of British Industries
The Federation of British Industries was founded by the Midlands industrialist Dudley Docker in 1916. It was composed of 124 firms which all gave £1,000 for its foundation. The FBI never took part in labour relations but progressively involved in tariff reform...
from 1949 to 1951, a Member of the Security Commission from 1966 to 1977 and Pro-Chancellor of Bristol University from 1946 to 1970. He also held the honorary post of High Sheriff
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
of Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. In 1957 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Sinclair of Cleeve, of Cleeve in the County of Somerset.
Lord Sinclair of Cleeve died in March 1979, aged 85, and was succeeded in the barony by his son John.