George White (businessman)
Encyclopedia
Sir George White, 1st Baronet (1854 – 1916) was an English businessman and stockbroker based in Bristol
. He was instrumental in the construction of the Bristol tramways
and became a pioneer in the construction of electric tramways in England. In 1910 he formed, with his brother Samuel, the Bristol Aeroplane Company
. He had many other interests, particularly in transport companies.
, following the passage of the Tramways Act 1870
, and White played a major part. In 1875 he left the law, and established a stockbroking firm, George White & Co.
, which operated horse trams in Middlesbrough
, Dublin, Gloucester
and Reading
, the Corris Railway
and, from 1894, London United Tramways
, which operated horse trams in west London. In 1887 the Bristol tramways company was merged into the new Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company, with White as managing director. In the 1890s White became a pioneer of electric tramways, starting in Bristol in 1895 and later in west London.
White became chairman of Bristol Tramways in 1900, a post he retained until his death. Under his leadership the company introduced motor buses in 1906, and began the manufacture of buses in 1908.
, which set out from the first to produce aircraft on a commercial scale.
), the North Somerset Railway, the Main Colliery Company and the Taff Vale Railway
. He also served as president of the Bristol Stock Exchange.
White was a benefactor of the Bristol Royal Infirmary
, the Red Cross
and other charities. He was created a baronet
on 26 August 1904 for his public service.
, Bristol on 22 November 1916.
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. He was instrumental in the construction of the Bristol tramways
Bristol Tramways
Bristol tramways were operated from 1875, when the Bristol Tramways Company was formed by Sir George White, until 1941 when a Luftwaffe bomb destroyed the power station.-History:...
and became a pioneer in the construction of electric tramways in England. In 1910 he formed, with his brother Samuel, the Bristol Aeroplane Company
Bristol Aeroplane Company
The Bristol Aeroplane Company, originally the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, was both one of the first and one of the most important British aviation companies, designing and manufacturing both airframes and aero engines...
. He had many other interests, particularly in transport companies.
Early life
White was born in Kingsdown, Bristol on 28 March 1854, the son of Henry White, a painter and decorator. He attended St Michaels Boys School, and in 1869 joined a Bristol firm of solicitors as a junior clerk. In 1874 White's firm was involved in the promotion of the Bristol Tramways CompanyBristol Tramways
Bristol tramways were operated from 1875, when the Bristol Tramways Company was formed by Sir George White, until 1941 when a Luftwaffe bomb destroyed the power station.-History:...
, following the passage of the Tramways Act 1870
Tramways Act 1870
The Tramways Act 1870 was an important step in the development of urban transport in Britain. Street tramways had originated in the United States, and were introduced to Britain by George Francis Train in the 1860s, the first recorded installation being a short line from Woodside Ferry to...
, and White played a major part. In 1875 he left the law, and established a stockbroking firm, George White & Co.
Tramways
In 1875 White was appointed secretary of the Bristol Tramways Company. In 1892 he also became involved in the Imperial Tramways CompanyImperial Tramways Company
The Imperial Tramways Company Ltd was created to bring under common management a number of street tramways. Originally based in London, its headquarters moved to Bristol in 1892 and from then on it shared its senior management with Bristol Tramways under the chairmanship of George...
, which operated horse trams in Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, Dublin, Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
and Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, the Corris Railway
Corris Railway
The Corris Railway is a narrow gauge preserved railway based in Corris on the border between Merionethshire and Montgomeryshire in Mid-Wales....
and, from 1894, London United Tramways
London United Tramways
London United Tramways Company Limited was an operator of trams and trolleybuses in the western and southern suburbs of London, UK, from 1894 to 1933, when it passed to the London Passenger Transport Board.-Origins:...
, which operated horse trams in west London. In 1887 the Bristol tramways company was merged into the new Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company, with White as managing director. In the 1890s White became a pioneer of electric tramways, starting in Bristol in 1895 and later in west London.
White became chairman of Bristol Tramways in 1900, a post he retained until his death. Under his leadership the company introduced motor buses in 1906, and began the manufacture of buses in 1908.
Aircraft
White became interested in heavier-than-air flight, and in 1909 saw Wilbur Wright flying in France. In 1910 he founded the Bristol Aeroplane CompanyBristol Aeroplane Company
The Bristol Aeroplane Company, originally the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, was both one of the first and one of the most important British aviation companies, designing and manufacturing both airframes and aero engines...
, which set out from the first to produce aircraft on a commercial scale.
Other interests
White also had interests in the Great Western Steamship Company, the Bristol Port and Channel Dock Company (which built Avonmouth DocksAvonmouth Docks
The Avonmouth Docks are part of the Port of Bristol, in England. They are situated on the northern side of the mouth of the River Avon, opposite the Royal Portbury Dock on the southern side, where the river joins the Severn estuary, within Avonmouth....
), the North Somerset Railway, the Main Colliery Company and the Taff Vale Railway
Taff Vale Railway
The Taff Vale Railway is a railway in Glamorgan, South Wales, and is one of the oldest in Wales. It operated as an independent company from 1836 until 1922, when it became a constituent company of the Great Western Railway...
. He also served as president of the Bristol Stock Exchange.
White was a benefactor of the Bristol Royal Infirmary
Bristol Royal Infirmary
The Bristol Royal Infirmary, also known as the BRI, is a large teaching hospital situated in the centre of Bristol, England. It has links with the medical faculty of the nearby University of Bristol, and the Faculty of Health and Social Care at the University of the West of England, also in...
, the Red Cross
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross Society is the United Kingdom branch of the worldwide impartial humanitarian organisation the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with over 31,000 volunteers and 2,600 staff. At the heart of their work...
and other charities. He was created a baronet
White Baronets
The White Baronets were four baronetcies created for persons with the surname of White. All of these baronets are listed in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom...
on 26 August 1904 for his public service.
Personal life and death
White married Caroline Thomas (d.1915) in 1876. They had two children. He died at his home in Stoke BishopStoke Bishop
Stoke Bishop is a very affluent and medium-sized outer city suburb in the north-west of Bristol, located in between Westbury-on-Trym, Sneyd Park, and Sea Mills. Although relatively small, Stoke Bishop's population has increased due to substantial infilling on the Smelting Works sports ground and...
, Bristol on 22 November 1916.