Sir William Robert Marshall Cockburn (26 April 1891 – 1 September 1957) was a Scottish banker who spent most of his career with the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China. He became the bank's managing director from 1940 to 1955.

Cockburn also had a brief career as a cricketer. ^[1] He played once for the Scotland national cricket team in 1921. ^[2]

Early life

Cockburn was born on 26 April 1891 in Paisley, ^[3] where his father George Cockburn was a schoolmaster. ^[4] He was educated at Paisley Grammar School ^[3] and at the Glasgow High School. ^[5]

In 1908, aged 16, he became an apprentice at the Union Bank of Scotland, ^[4] before joining the Chartered Bank in 1911. ^[3]

Career

Cockburn's career with the bank took him overseas, firstly as a cadet in the banks branches on the coast of China. ^[6]

He then held various posts across Southeast Asia and the East Asia, ^[3] serving with the bank in Indo-China, Malaya, Japan and China. ^[4] In 1934 he became manager of the bank's branch in Shanghai. ^[3]

He returned to the United Kingdom in 1936 ^[4] or 1937, ^[3] when he became assistant general manager of the Chartered Bank. ^[4] He was promoted in 1940 to become chief general manager, and held that post for until 1955, when he retired to become a director of the bank. ^{[3] [4]}

The 15 years of Cockburn's tenure as general manager included both World War II and the subsequent reconstruction of the Far East. ^[6] In a few months at the end of 1941 and early 1942, two thirds of bank's eastern branches fell to the Japanese conquest of Asia, and were sequestrated. ^[3]

Cockburn was recognised as an expert on the economies of Asia, especially of China. ^{[3] [6]} He served as Chairman of the Eastern Exchange Banks Association and the British Overseas Banks Association, as vice-president of the British Bankers' Association and as president of the Manchester and District Institute of Bankers. ^[4]

Cockburn was knighted in the 1955 New Year Honours list. ^{[7] [8]} The title was conferred 18 March 1955. ^[9]

Cricket

Cockburn played three times for the Federated Malay States against the Straits Settlements between 1919 and 1921, ^[10] before playing his only match for Scotland, a first-class match against Ireland in August 1921. ^[2] He died in Winchester on 1 September 1957. ^[5]

Death

Cockburn, who lived at Twyford in Hampshire, ^[4] had a succession of serious illnesses in the last 20 years of his life. ^[3] He died aged 66 on 1 September 1957, ^[3] and was survived by his wife and a daughter. ^[4] His funeral was held at St Johns crematorium in Woking. ^[11]

References

External links

• Portraits of Sir William Cockburn at the National Portrait Gallery, London