Allen George Clark
Encyclopedia
Sir Allen George Clark was an American
born, British
industrialist who helped to build the former Plessey
company into one of Europe's largest manufacturers of telecommunications equipment, military electronics
and aircraft
components.
, Massachusetts
in 1898. His father was Byron George Clark, an American businessman who worked for United Shoe Machinery Corporation. In 1905 Clark was brought to England
by his parents. Following his education at Felsted School
, Clark joined the British Army
and was wounded at Cambrai
in 1917. Clark later joined the Royal Flying Corps
and served in Egypt
. In 1927 he became a British Citizen.
, Essex
. Throughout the 1920s and 30s, Clark along with the engineer William Oscar Heyne, built Plessey into a large engineering company.
During World War II
, Plessey made an outstanding contribution to the nation's war effort producing munitions, aircraft components and electronic equipment. Clark remained in charge of the company throughout these times.
After the war Plessey continued to expand under the guidance of Clark, new products included industrial hydraulics
, radar
equipment, telecommunications equipment and semiconductor
s. In 1961 Plessey acquired the British Ericsson and AT&E companies, to become Britain's largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer.
Clark was awarded a Knighthood in 1961.
Allen George Clark died from cancer in 1962, and after his death, both of his sons, John Allen Clark and Michael William Clark continued to play an important role in the management of Plessey.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
born, British
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...
industrialist who helped to build the former Plessey
Plessey
The Plessey Company plc was a British-based international electronics, defence and telecommunications company. It originated in 1917, growing and diversifying into electronics. It expanded after the second world war by acquisition of companies and formed overseas companies...
company into one of Europe's largest manufacturers of telecommunications equipment, military electronics
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
and aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
components.
Early life
Allen George Clark was born in BrooklineBrookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in 1898. His father was Byron George Clark, an American businessman who worked for United Shoe Machinery Corporation. In 1905 Clark was brought to England
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...
by his parents. Following his education at Felsted School
Felsted School
Felsted School, an English co-educational day and boarding independent school, situated in Felsted, Essex. It is in the British Public School tradition, and was founded in 1564 by Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich who, as Lord Chancellor and Chancellor of the Court of Augmentations, acquired...
, Clark joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and was wounded at Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
in 1917. Clark later joined the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
and served in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. In 1927 he became a British Citizen.
Career
Clark joined the Plessey company in 1921 when his father bought a share of the company. Plessey was a small engineering company based in IlfordIlford
Ilford is a large cosmopolitan town in East London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Redbridge. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It forms a significant commercial and retail...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. Throughout the 1920s and 30s, Clark along with the engineer William Oscar Heyne, built Plessey into a large engineering company.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Plessey made an outstanding contribution to the nation's war effort producing munitions, aircraft components and electronic equipment. Clark remained in charge of the company throughout these times.
After the war Plessey continued to expand under the guidance of Clark, new products included industrial hydraulics
Hydraulics
Hydraulics is a topic in applied science and engineering dealing with the mechanical properties of liquids. Fluid mechanics provides the theoretical foundation for hydraulics, which focuses on the engineering uses of fluid properties. In fluid power, hydraulics is used for the generation, control,...
, radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
equipment, telecommunications equipment and semiconductor
Semiconductor
A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity due to electron flow intermediate in magnitude between that of a conductor and an insulator. This means a conductivity roughly in the range of 103 to 10−8 siemens per centimeter...
s. In 1961 Plessey acquired the British Ericsson and AT&E companies, to become Britain's largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer.
Clark was awarded a Knighthood in 1961.
Allen George Clark died from cancer in 1962, and after his death, both of his sons, John Allen Clark and Michael William Clark continued to play an important role in the management of Plessey.