William Alfred Pickwoad | |
---|---|
Born | 24 May 1886 |
Died | 1975 |
Nationality | British |
William Alfred Pickwoad OBE FRSA (1886–1975) was a British businessman who was a prominent figure in South America's railway industry and also held directorships in the major business concerns of Bolivia during the 1930s and 1940s. [1] [2] [3] [4] He was variously general manager of the Antofagasta & Bolivia Railway, general manager of the Central Argentine Railway, general manager of the General Mitre Railway, [5] special adviser to the Argentine Ministry of Transport, President of the Bolivian Railway, a founding director of the Central Bank of Bolivia, [6] President of Banco Mercantil, still one of the largest banks in Bolivia, and President of the National Cement Company of Bolivia. [7]
Pickwoad was invested as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1937, [3] a Grand Officer of the Order of the Condor of the Andes in Bolivia, a Commander of the Mérito Militar in Bolivia and as an Officer of the Cruzeiro do Sol in Brazil. [1]
William Alfred Pickwoad was born in Belize [8] as a British subject on 24 May 1886, the son of Robert Williams Pickwoad and Helen Marian Pickwoad. [1] [9] He was educated at Bedford Modern School and St John's School, Hurstpierpoint. [1] [10] His brother, Howell Pickwoad, [11] was the father of the actor William Mervyn Pickwoad. [12]
Pickwoad started his career in 1904 with the Great Western Railway of Brazil. [13] [14] At the outbreak of World War I he volunteered for active service and attained the rank of captain in the Royal Engineers. [15] [16] [17]
After the war Pickwoad became general manager of the Antofagasta and Bolivia Railway [18] and President of the Bolivian Railway. [19] In 1944 he was appointed general manager of the Central Argentine Railway, [20] a position he held until 1948 when he was made special adviser to the Argentine Ministry of Transport. [21] [22] In 1949 he was made President of a significant import and export business in São Paulo, Brazil. [23]
In addition to his work on South American railways, Pickwoad was a founding director of the Central Bank of Bolivia, [6] President of Banco Mercantil, still one of the largest banks in Bolivia, and President of the National Cement Company of Bolivia. [7]
Pickwoad was invested as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1937, [3] a Grand Officer of the Order of the Condor of the Andes in Bolivia, a Commander of the Mérito Militar of Bolivia and an Officer of the Cruzeiro do Sol in Brazil. [1]
On 17 August 1929, Pickwoad married Mary Frances Watkins of Alhambra, California, USA. [8] They had one daughter, Pamela Elizabeth Pickwoad, [24] who married (secondly) Lieutenant-Colonel James Dighton Butler with whom she had two children. [25]
A prominent freemason, Pickwoad was Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of Bolivia and Worshipful Master of the Anglo Bolivian Lodge No 7. [26] [27] [28] He was a founder of the Rotary Club of La Paz in Bolivia and one of its early presidents. [29] [30]
William Alfred Pickwoad | |
---|---|
Born | 24 May 1886 |
Died | 1975 |
Nationality | British |
William Alfred Pickwoad OBE FRSA (1886–1975) was a British businessman who was a prominent figure in South America's railway industry and also held directorships in the major business concerns of Bolivia during the 1930s and 1940s. [1] [2] [3] [4] He was variously general manager of the Antofagasta & Bolivia Railway, general manager of the Central Argentine Railway, general manager of the General Mitre Railway, [5] special adviser to the Argentine Ministry of Transport, President of the Bolivian Railway, a founding director of the Central Bank of Bolivia, [6] President of Banco Mercantil, still one of the largest banks in Bolivia, and President of the National Cement Company of Bolivia. [7]
Pickwoad was invested as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1937, [3] a Grand Officer of the Order of the Condor of the Andes in Bolivia, a Commander of the Mérito Militar in Bolivia and as an Officer of the Cruzeiro do Sol in Brazil. [1]
William Alfred Pickwoad was born in Belize [8] as a British subject on 24 May 1886, the son of Robert Williams Pickwoad and Helen Marian Pickwoad. [1] [9] He was educated at Bedford Modern School and St John's School, Hurstpierpoint. [1] [10] His brother, Howell Pickwoad, [11] was the father of the actor William Mervyn Pickwoad. [12]
Pickwoad started his career in 1904 with the Great Western Railway of Brazil. [13] [14] At the outbreak of World War I he volunteered for active service and attained the rank of captain in the Royal Engineers. [15] [16] [17]
After the war Pickwoad became general manager of the Antofagasta and Bolivia Railway [18] and President of the Bolivian Railway. [19] In 1944 he was appointed general manager of the Central Argentine Railway, [20] a position he held until 1948 when he was made special adviser to the Argentine Ministry of Transport. [21] [22] In 1949 he was made President of a significant import and export business in São Paulo, Brazil. [23]
In addition to his work on South American railways, Pickwoad was a founding director of the Central Bank of Bolivia, [6] President of Banco Mercantil, still one of the largest banks in Bolivia, and President of the National Cement Company of Bolivia. [7]
Pickwoad was invested as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1937, [3] a Grand Officer of the Order of the Condor of the Andes in Bolivia, a Commander of the Mérito Militar of Bolivia and an Officer of the Cruzeiro do Sol in Brazil. [1]
On 17 August 1929, Pickwoad married Mary Frances Watkins of Alhambra, California, USA. [8] They had one daughter, Pamela Elizabeth Pickwoad, [24] who married (secondly) Lieutenant-Colonel James Dighton Butler with whom she had two children. [25]
A prominent freemason, Pickwoad was Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of Bolivia and Worshipful Master of the Anglo Bolivian Lodge No 7. [26] [27] [28] He was a founder of the Rotary Club of La Paz in Bolivia and one of its early presidents. [29] [30]