Sir Andrew NaesmithCBE (24 July 1888 – 23 October 1961) was aBritishtrade union leader.
Born inBonnyrigg inMidlothian, Naesmith grew up inLancashire, where he worked in a cotton mill,[1] initially as a half-timer.[2] He served with theBlack Watch duringWorld War I as aquartermaster-sergeant.[1]
Naesmith joined his local weavers' union at the age of fifteen, and rose rapidly to become general secretary of theAmalgamated Weavers' Association in 1927.[1] He was also elected to the General Council of theTrades Union Congress (TUC), and served as the TUC's representative to theAmerican Federation of Labour in 1935.[2]
As a result of his position in the trade union movement, Naesmith was appointed to theCotton Board, then in 1947 to the government's Economic Planning Board. He resigned in 1949 due to work pressures, but instead accepted appointment as a Governor of theBank of England. Staff of the Bank objected to his appointment, holding that a trade union post among the governors should be held by someone from one of their own unions, but he was nonetheless reappointed in 1953, when he was also appointed to the Iron and Steel Board, and stood down from his union posts.[2]
Naesmith was awarded theCBE in the1942 Birthday Honours, then wasknighted in the1953 Coronation Honours.[1]
| Trade union offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | General Secretary of theAmalgamated Weavers' Association 1927–1953 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | General Secretary of theNorthern Counties Textile Trades Federation 1943–1953 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Trades Union Congress representative to theAmerican Federation of Labour 1935 With:Andrew Conley | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of theGeneral Federation of Trade Unions 1938 – 1940 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Cotton Group member of theGeneral Council of the Trades Union Congress 1945 – 1953 With:Alfred Roberts | Succeeded by |