Robert John Sinclair, 1st Baron Sinclair of Cleeve (29 July 1893 – 4 March 1979), was a British businessman and public servant. He was the son of Robert Henry Sinclair. He was a

tobacco Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...

wholesaler in

Newcastle-upon-Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle ( , Received Pronunciation, RP: ), is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is England's northernmost metropolitan borough, located o ...

whose family firm traded as Sinclair (Robert) Tobacco Co., Ltd. This company was acquired by the

Imperial Tobacco Company Imperial Brands plc (originally the Imperial Tobacco Company of Great Britain & Ireland, and subsequently Imperial Tobacco Group plc) is a British multinational tobacco company headquartered in Bristol, England. It is the world's fourth-larges ...

in 1930, of which company Sinclair was later chairman from 1947 to 1959 and president. He was also Chairman of the Finance Corporation for Industry and of the Bristol Waterworks Company. During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Sinclair served as Director-General of Army Requirements at the

War Office The War Office has referred to several British government organisations throughout history, all relating to the army. It was a department of the British Government responsible for the administration of the British Army between 1857 and 1964, at ...

from 1939 to 1942 and as Chief Executive at the

Ministry of Production Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian mi ...

from 1943 to 1945. After the war he was President of the

Federation of British Industries The Federation of British Industries (FBI) was an employers' association in the United Kingdom. History Founded by the Midlands industrialist Dudley Docker in 1916 as the United British Industries' Association, but renamed later that same year, ...

from 1949 to 1951, a Member of the Security Commission from 1966 to 1977, and Pro-Chancellor of

Bristol University The University of Bristol is a public research university in Bristol, England. It received its royal charter in 1909, although it can trace its roots to a Merchant Venturers' school founded in 1595 and University College, Bristol, which had ...

from 1946 to 1970. He also held the honorary post of

High Sheriff of Somerset The office of High Sheriff of Somerset is an ancient shrievalty which has been in existence since the 11th century. Originally known as the "Sheriff of Somerset", the role was retitled on 1 April 1974, under the provisions of the Local Government ...

. In 1957 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Sinclair of Cleeve, of Cleeve in the County of Somerset. Lord Sinclair of Cleeve died in March 1979, aged 85, and was succeeded in the barony by his son John.

Arms

References

*Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). ''Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage'' (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990. * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sinclair of Cleeve, Robert Sinclair, 1st Baron 1893 births 1979 deaths Knights Bachelor Hereditary barons created by Elizabeth II High sheriffs of Somerset