James George Weir
James George Weir | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Died | November 7, 1973 (aged 86) |
| Occupation(s) | Aviator, entrepreneur, businessman |
| Known for | Financial backing of the autogiro; chairman and managing director of the Cierva Autogiro Company; board member of the Bank of England; deputy director of G. & J. Weir Ltd. |
Air Commodore James George Weir (23 May 1887 – 7 November 1973) was a pioneering Scottish aviator and entrepreneur who provided financial backing for Juan de la Cierva's innovation of the autogiro.
Biography
James George Weir was born in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland, as the son of James Weir from G. & J. Weir Ltd. and the younger sibling of William Weir, 1st Viscount Weir. Both siblings were actively engaged in the family’s engineering enterprise.
Initially commissioned on 24 February 1906 as an officer within the 3rd (Renfrewshire) Volunteer Battalion of Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders), Weir transitioned on 1 April 1908 to serve with the 3rd Highland (Howitzer) Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery.
He secured the 24th aviator certificate issued by the Royal Aero Club after piloting a Bleriot Monoplane at RAF Hendon on 8 November 1910. In 1914, he became a member of the Royal Flying Corps, eventually retiring from the Royal Air Force following his move to the Territorial Force.
In 1926, Weir co-established and took on the roles of chairman and managing director at the Cierva Autogiro Company, significantly contributing to the commercialization of autogiro technology. His career later expanded into finance as he joined the board of directors at the Bank of England in 1935 and held a deputy director position at G. & J. Weir Ltd., thereby strengthening his impact in both industrial and financial arenas.
A distinctive aspect of Weir’s life was his daily commute by autogiro, an aviation advancement that gained popular attention through its depiction in Alfred Hitchcock’s film The 39 Steps (1935), exemplifying his dedication to integrating cutting-edge flying technologies into business practice.
Honours and awards
- On 1 January 1918, Major (Temp./Lt. Col.) James George Weir, RFA, was honored as a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in recognition of his significant wartime contributions.
- On 8 November 1918, Lt.Col (A./Brig.-Genl.) James George Weir, CMG, (RFA) received appointment as an Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy.
- He was designated a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) on 3 June 1919.
- On 11 July 1919, Lt.-Col. (A./Brig.-Genl.) James George Weir, CMG, CBE (RA, TF) was awarded the title of Officer of the Légion d'honneur by France.
See also
References
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1887 births
- 1973 deaths
- Scottish aviators
- British aviation pioneers
- Royal Flying Corps officers
- Royal Air Force generals of World War I
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Officers of the Legion of Honour
- 20th-century Scottish businesspeople
- Scottish company founders
- Scottish bankers
- British corporate directors