George Sleight
Encyclopedia
Sir George Frederick Sleight, 1st Baronet (26 March 1853 – 19 March 1921) was an English
fishing trawler owner.
Sleight claimed that he started his career as a cockle
-gatherer on the seashore at Grimsby
. He went on to build a fishing empire that boasted the largest fleet of trawling smack
s in the world. He was later a pioneer of steam trawlers and also acquired the largest fleet of those in the world. During the First World War almost all his vessels (50–60 of them) were commandeered for mine sweeping and patrol duties and over thirty were sunk.
Having previously been knighted
, Sleight was created a baronet
in the 1920 Birthday Honours.
He died aged 68 and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his son, Ernest.
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...
fishing trawler owner.
Sleight claimed that he started his career as a cockle
Cockle (bivalve)
Cockle is the common name for a group of small, edible, saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Cardiidae.Various species of cockles live in sandy sheltered beaches throughout the world....
-gatherer on the seashore at Grimsby
Grimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
. He went on to build a fishing empire that boasted the largest fleet of trawling smack
Smack (ship)
A smack was a traditional fishing boat used off the coast of England and the Atlantic coast of America for most of the 19th century, and even in small numbers up to the Second World War. It was originally a cutter rigged sailing boat until about 1865, when the smacks became so large that cutter...
s in the world. He was later a pioneer of steam trawlers and also acquired the largest fleet of those in the world. During the First World War almost all his vessels (50–60 of them) were commandeered for mine sweeping and patrol duties and over thirty were sunk.
Having previously been knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
, Sleight 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 Birthday Honours.
He died aged 68 and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his son, Ernest.