Edward George, Baron George
DL | |
---|---|
Governor of the Bank of England | |
In office 1 July 1993 – 30 June 2003 | |
Appointed by | Kenneth Clarke |
Preceded by | Robin Leigh-Pemberton |
Succeeded by | Mervyn King |
Personal details | |
Born | Carshalton, England | 16 September 1938
Died | 18 April 2009 St Tudy, Cornwall, England | (aged 70)
Spouse |
Vanessa Williams (m. 1962) |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater | Emmanuel College, Cambridge |
Profession | Economist |
Edward Alan John George, Baron George
Early life
George was born and grew up in
Financial career
George joined the Bank of England in 1962. Apart from secondments to Moscow State University, the Bank for International Settlements, and the International Monetary Fund, he remained there throughout his career.
After three years as Deputy Governor,[2] he was appointed Governor of the Bank of England to succeed Robin Leigh-Pemberton, who retired on the completion of his second five-year term of office on 30 June 1993. During the early part of George's governance, his successful relationship with then-Chancellor of the Exchequer Kenneth Clarke earned them the nickname 'the Ken and Eddie Show'.[3] Upon the Labour Party coming to power at the 1997 general election, the Bank was given independence in setting UK interest rates by Gordon Brown, the incoming Chancellor of the Exchequer.[4] George was succeeded as Governor of the Bank of England in July 2003 by Mervyn King.
George attracted controversy in 1998 when he was widely reported to have made a statement to London newspaper executives implying that unemployment in the north of England was a price worth paying to preserve affluence in the south of the country. He later claimed that his remarks had been misconstrued.[5]
Later life
George served as a Governor of his former school, Dulwich College, between 1998 and 2008 and as the Chairman of the Governors between 2003 and 2008.[6][7]
On 18 April 2009, George, a heavy smoker, died of lung cancer.[8][9]
Personal life
George married Vanessa George, Lady George (
Honours
George was appointed
Arms
|
References
- ^ a b c "Former bank governor George dies". BBC News. 18 April 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
- ^ "Deputy Governors of the Bank of England" (PDF). Bank of England. Retrieved 3 January 2014.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Lord George". www.telegraph.co.uk. 19 April 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "Former bank governor George dies". BBC News. 18 April 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
- ^ "Governor tries to douse north's fire". BBC News. 22 October 1998. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
- ^ "Dulwich College – Old Alleynians in Politics, Law and Business". Retrieved 18 April 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Lord George Building Opened". Dulwich College News. Dulwich College. 17 March 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Former bank governor George dies". BBC News. 18 April 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
- ^ "Lord Eddie George". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 21 April 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
- ^ Lady Vanessa George
- ^ "No. 55879". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 June 2000. p. 7.
- ^ "No. 57343". The London Gazette. 2 July 2004. p. 8267.
- ^ Minute Office, House of Lords. "Lords minutes, 14 September 2004". Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2010.