Andrew Naesmith
Sir Andrew Naesmith | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 24, 1888 Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, Scotland |
| Died | October 23, 1961 (aged 73) |
| Occupation | Trade unionist |
| Known for | General Secretary of the Amalgamated Weavers' Association; Member of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress; Governor of the Bank of England |
Sir Andrew Naesmith CBE (24 July 1888 – 23 October 1961) was a prominent figure in British trade unionism.
Originally from Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, Naesmith spent his formative years in Lancashire where he was employed in a cotton mill. During World War I, he served as a quartermaster-sergeant with the Black Watch regiment.
At the age of fifteen, Naesmith became a member of his local weavers' union and later, in 1927, assumed the role of general secretary for the Amalgamated Weavers' Association. He secured a position on the General Council of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and represented the TUC to the American Federation of Labour in 1935.
His leadership within the trade union movement led to appointments on the Cotton Board and, in 1947, on the government's Economic Planning Board. Although he stepped down in 1949 due to workload demands, he accepted a governorship at the Bank of England. Despite opposition from staff who favored a governor affiliated with their own unions, Naesmith was reappointed in 1953, simultaneously joining the Iron and Steel Board and relinquishing his union responsibilities.
Naesmith received the honour of being named a CBE in 1942 and was knighted in 1953.