Leslie Kenneth O'Brien
Encyclopedia
Leslie Kenneth O'Brien, Baron O'Brien of Lothbury, GBE, PC, (8 February 1908 – 24 November 1995) was Governor of the Bank of England
.
After attending Wandsworth School in London, he joined the Bank of England
in 1927 and rose through the ranks, becoming Chief Cashier
in 1955, Deputy Governor in 1966, before serving as Governor from 1966 until 1973.
As Governor, O'Brien presided over the devaluation
of the pound in 1967.
He became a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
in 1967 and was appointed to the Privy Council
in 1970. Following his retirement as Governor in 1973 he was created a life peer
as Baron O'Brien of Lothbury, of the City of London
.
He married firstly Isabelle Pickett (1908–1987) in 1932, and secondly Marjorie Taylor (born 1923). He died in Tandridge, Surrey
, in 1995.
Governor of the Bank of England
The Governor of the Bank of England is the most senior position in the Bank of England. It is nominally a civil service post, but the appointment tends to be from within the Bank, with the incumbent grooming his or her successor...
.
After attending Wandsworth School in London, he joined 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...
in 1927 and rose through the ranks, becoming Chief Cashier
Chief Cashier
The Chief Cashier is the person responsible for issuing banknotes at the Bank of England and is the director of the divisions which provide the Bank of England's banking infrastructure. This person is known to the general public because since 1870 the Chief Cashier's signature is printed on all...
in 1955, Deputy Governor in 1966, before serving as Governor from 1966 until 1973.
As Governor, O'Brien presided over the devaluation
Devaluation
Devaluation is a reduction in the value of a currency with respect to those goods, services or other monetary units with which that currency can be exchanged....
of the pound in 1967.
He became a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1967 and was appointed to the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
in 1970. Following his retirement as Governor in 1973 he was created a 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 O'Brien of Lothbury, of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
.
He married firstly Isabelle Pickett (1908–1987) in 1932, and secondly Marjorie Taylor (born 1923). He died in Tandridge, Surrey
Tandridge, Surrey
Tandridge is a village and civil parish in Surrey, England. It is located between Oxted and Godstone.The village lay within the Anglo-Saxon administrative division of Tandridge hundred....
, in 1995.
External links
- Obituary: Lord O'Brien of Lothbury from The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...