Hector Laing, Baron Laing of Dunphail
Encyclopedia
Hector Laing, Baron Laing of Dunphail FRSE, FRSA
(12 May 1923 – 21 June 2010) was a British
businessman.
The son of Hector Laing and Margaret Norris Grant was educated at the Loretto School
in Musselburgh
and Jesus College, Cambridge
. Laing served as a tank commander in the Scots Guards
between 1942 and 1947, and reached the rank of a Captain
. He was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the US Bronze Star during campaign in France in 1944-45.
From 1973 to 1991, Laing was Director of the Bank of England
. He was Director of the Exxon Corporation from 1984 to 1994.
Laing married Marian Clare, daughter of John Emilius Laurie in 1950; they had three sons.
He was knighted in 1978 and was created a Conservative
life peer
as Baron Laing of Dunphail, of Dunphail in the County of Moray
on 8 February 1991. Laing was also a Fellow
of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
.
Lord Laing died on 21 June 2010 after a short illness.
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
(12 May 1923 – 21 June 2010) was a 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...
businessman.
The son of Hector Laing and Margaret Norris Grant was educated at the Loretto School
Loretto School
Loretto School is an independent school in Scotland, founded in 1827. The campus occupies in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh.-History:Loretto was founded by the Reverend Thomas Langhorne in 1827. Langhorne came from Crosby Ravensworth, near Kirkby Stephen. The school was later taken over by his son,...
in Musselburgh
Musselburgh
Musselburgh is the largest settlement in East Lothian, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth, six miles east of Edinburgh city centre.-History:...
and Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
. Laing served as a tank commander in the Scots Guards
Scots Guards
The Scots Guards is a regiment of the Guards Division of the British Army, whose origins lie in the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland...
between 1942 and 1947, and reached the rank of a Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
. He was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the US Bronze Star during campaign in France in 1944-45.
From 1973 to 1991, Laing was Director of the Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
. He was Director of the Exxon Corporation from 1984 to 1994.
Laing married Marian Clare, daughter of John Emilius Laurie in 1950; they had three sons.
He was knighted in 1978 and was created a Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Laing of Dunphail, of Dunphail in the County of Moray
Moray
Moray is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland.- History :...
on 8 February 1991. Laing was also a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
.
Lord Laing died on 21 June 2010 after a short illness.