Sir George Alexander Touche, 1st Baronet (/ˈtuːʃ/; born Touch;[1] 24 May 1861 – 7 July 1935) was a British accountant and politician. He founded one of the firms which amalgamated to create Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.
Sir George Touche | |
|---|---|
 Touche in 1915 | |
| Member of Parliament for Islington North | |
| In office 1910–1918 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | George Alexander Touch 24 May 1861 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 7 July 1935 (aged 74) |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
| Occupation | Accountant |
Early life and career
editTouche was born on 24 May 1861 in Edinburgh, the son of a banker. He was educated at the Bonnington Academy, the Edinburgh Institution, and the University of Edinburgh and was indentured to a chartered accountant in 1878. In 1883 he was admitted to the Society of Accountants in Edinburgh and immediately left for London, joining the firm of Broads, Patterson & May.
Later career
editIn 1889 he was appointed first secretary of the Industrial and General Trust, later becoming manager, director in 1898, and chairman in 1908. He also became director and chairman of many other companies. In 1899 he founded his own practice, George A. Touch & Co.
In 1910 he was elected as the Conservative Member of Parliament for North Islington, but retired due to ill-health in 1918.
He was knighted in 1917 and created a baronet for his political services in the 1920 Birthday Honours.[2][3]
He died on 7 July 1935.
Footnotes
edit- ^ He added the final "e" in 1906 because people continually mispronounced his name.
- ^ "No. 31931". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 June 1920. p. 6314.
- ^ "No. 32035". The London Gazette. 31 August 1920. p. 8860.
References
edit- Biography, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography