Harry McGowan, 1st Baron McGowan

Harry Duncan McGowan, 1st Baron McGowan KBE (3 June 1874 – 13 July 1961) LLD DCL, was a prominent Scottish industrialist who served as Chairman of Imperial Chemical Industries for 20 years.

The Right Honourable The Lord McGowan KBE
Chairman - Imperial Chemical Industries
In office 1930–1950
Preceded by	Alfred Mond, 1st Baron Melchett
Succeeded by	Lord Fleck
Personal details
Born	(1874-06-03)3 June 1874
Died	13 July 1961(1961-07-13) (aged 87) London
Nationality	Scottish
Spouse	Lady Jean Boyle Young
Children	Hon. Agnes Wilson McGowan Hon. Isobel Young McGowan Lord Harry Wilson McGowan, 2nd Baron McGowan Hon. William Johnston McGowan
Parents	Henry McGowan Esq. Agnes Wilson
Alma mater	Hutchesons' Grammar School LL.D. St. Andrews University[1]

Early life and education

McGowan was the only son of Henry McGowan Esq. and his wife Agnes (née Wilson). He was educated at Hutchesons' Grammar School, an independent school in Glasgow and Allan Glen's School. He joined the Nobel Explosives Company, the company founded by Alfred Nobel, as an executive officer. In 1918 he became Chairman and Managing Director of Explosives Trade Ltd (from 1920 known as Nobel Industries Ltd), a position he held until the formation of ICI.

Career

In 1926 Nobel Industries merged with Brunner Mond, the United Alkali Company and the British Dyestuffs Corporation to form Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). The merger, orchestrated by Alfred Mond, 1st Baron Melchett and McGowan, created one of the world's largest industrial corporations at the time.^[2][3]

McGowan succeeded Lord Melchett as Chairman and Managing Director in 1930 and remained Chairman until 1950. He was president of the Society of Chemical Industry in 1931.^[4] McGowan was appointed a KBE in the 1918 Birthday Honours and on 24 February 1937 he was raised to the peerage as Baron McGowan, of Ardeer in the County of Ayr, following the 1937 New Year Honours.^[5]

McGowan was a vegetarian who supported animal welfare.^[4] He served as president of League for the Prohibition of Cruel Sports and vice-president of the London Robert Louis Stevenson Club.^[4] McGowan married Jean, daughter of William Young, in 1903. They had two sons and two daughters. He was Hon. Colonel in the 52nd Lowland Divisional Signals, Royal Corps of Signals from 1934 to 1939.^[4] He died in July 1961, aged 87, and was succeeded in the barony by his elder son Harry.

Arms

Coat of arms of Harry McGowan, 1st Baron McGowan

Crest A tower Or between two horseshoes Proper. Escutcheon Quarterly per saltire Argent and Azure two lions rampant in pale Gules and as many horseshoes in fess Proper Supporters Dexter a figure representing St Barbara Proper holding in the exterior hand a tower Or sinister a figure representing St Kentigern Proper holding in the exterior hand his Crozier Or. Motto Juncta Juvant (Union Is Strength)[6]

In literature and popular culture

Although personally far from wealthy by contemporary standards, McGowan's organisation of the purchase of General Motors shares to the value of £5 million by Explosives Trades Ltd., enabled Pierre S. du Pont's financial rescue of the American car manufacturer from bankruptcy; this episode was naively satirised by Neil Munro in his Erchie MacPherson story "Our Mystery Millionaire", first published in the Glasgow Evening News of 17th May 1920.^[7]