Sir John Latta, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir John Latta, 1st Baronet (9 May 1867 – 5 December 1946) was a Scottish
shipping magnate.
Latta was born in Old Cumnock, Ayrshire
, and was educated at Ayr Academy
. He entered the family business, Lawther, Latta & Co Ltd, which owned the Nitrate Producers' Steamship Co Ltd, and later became chairman. In 1896, he married Mary Short, a member of the Short Brothers
shipbuilding dynasty. Under his chairmanship, the Nitrate Producers' Steamship Company outgrew its title and expanded into all areas of cargo shipping, operating large freighter
s, mostly built by Shorts. The fleet performed sterling service in the South African War, First World War and Second World War, and for his services to his country in the First World War, Latta was created a Baronet
in the 1920 New Year Honours.
His brother, Sir Andrew Gibson Latta (born 1875 at Darmalloch, Ayrshire), educated at Hamilton Academy
, was also a director of Lawther, Latta & Co Ltd and was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1921 for services to the Ministry of Shipping in the First World War.
Sir John Latta's only son predeceased him, and so the baronetcy became extinct upon his death.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
shipping magnate.
Latta was born in Old Cumnock, Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
, and was educated at Ayr Academy
Ayr Academy
Ayr Academy is a non-denominational secondary school situated in the centre of the town of Ayr in South Ayrshire. It is a comprehensive school for children from the ages of 11 to 18 from Ayr. Ayr Academy's catchment area covers Newton-on-Ayr, Whitletts and the outlying villages of Coylton, Annbank,...
. He entered the family business, Lawther, Latta & Co Ltd, which owned the Nitrate Producers' Steamship Co Ltd, and later became chairman. In 1896, he married Mary Short, a member of the Short Brothers
Short Brothers
Short Brothers plc is a British aerospace company, usually referred to simply as Shorts, that is now based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Founded in 1908, Shorts was the first company in the world to make production aircraft and was a manufacturer of flying boats during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s...
shipbuilding dynasty. Under his chairmanship, the Nitrate Producers' Steamship Company outgrew its title and expanded into all areas of cargo shipping, operating large freighter
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
s, mostly built by Shorts. The fleet performed sterling service in the South African War, First World War and Second World War, and for his services to his country in the First World War, Latta was 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.
His brother, Sir Andrew Gibson Latta (born 1875 at Darmalloch, Ayrshire), educated at Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, Hamilton Academy featured in the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association Magazine article series on...
, was also a director of Lawther, Latta & Co Ltd and was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1921 for services to the Ministry of Shipping in the First World War.
Sir John Latta's only son predeceased him, and so the baronetcy became extinct upon his death.