Leslie O'Brien, Baron O'Brien of Lothbury

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Leslie Kenneth O'Brien, Baron O'Brien of Lothbury GBE PC (8 February 1908 – 24 November 1995) was Governor of the Bank of England.

The Lord O'Brien of Lothbury
Portrait by Walter Bird, 1967
Governor of the Bank of England
In office
1 July 1966 – 30 June 1973
Preceded byThe Earl of Cromer
Succeeded byGordon Richardson
Personal details
Born
Leslie Kenneth O'Brien

(1908-02-08)8 February 1908
Dulwich, London
Died24 November 1995(1995-11-24) (aged 87)
Redhill, Surrey, England
Resting placeTandridge, Surrey, England
NationalityBritish
OccupationBanker

After attending Wandsworth Grammar 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.[1] 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[2] and was appointed to the Privy Council in 1970.[3] Following his retirement as governor in 1973 he was created a life peer as Baron O'Brien of Lothbury, of the City of London.[4]

He married firstly Isabelle Pickett (1908–1987) in 1932, and secondly Marjorie Taylor (born 1923) in 1989. He died in Tandridge, Surrey, in 1995.

Arms

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Coat of arms of Leslie O'Brien, Baron O'Brien of Lothbury
 
 
Coronet
A Coronet of a Baron
Crest
In front of two Keys in saltire Azure a Needle point downwards proper threaded Gules
Escutcheon
Gules bezanty three lions passant guardant in pale each per pale Or and Argent
Supporters
On either side a Lion guardant per fess Or and Argent in the mouth a Key Or standing upon a Heap of Coins Or and Argent
Motto
Calm in Adversity

Footnotes

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  1. ^ Who Was Who 1991-1995. A & C Black, London. 1996. ISBN 0-7136-4496-6.
  2. ^ "No. 44210". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1966. p. 10.
  3. ^ "No. 44999". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1969. p. 1.
  4. ^ "No. 45930". The London Gazette. 16 March 1973. p. 3513.

References

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Government offices
Preceded by Governor of the Bank of England
1966–1973
Succeeded by