The Lord Richardson of Duntisbourne | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 1977 | |
| Governor of the Bank of England | |
| In office 1 July 1973 – 30 June 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Leslie O'Brien |
| Succeeded by | Robin Leigh-Pemberton |
| Member of theHouse of Lords | |
| Life peerage 11 February 1983 – 22 January 2010 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gordon William Humphreys Richardson (1915-11-25)25 November 1915 |
| Died | 22 January 2010(2010-01-22) (aged 94) |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Lawyer, banker |
Gordon William Humphreys Richardson, Baron Richardson of Duntisbourne (25 November 1915 – 22 January 2010) was a British banker, former lawyer, and formerGovernor of the Bank of England.[1]
Richardson was born to John Robert and Nellie Richardson, and was educated atNottingham High School andGonville and Caius College, Cambridge.
He served during theSecond World War and became a Member of theOrder of the British Empire, Military Division, in 1944. He was called to the bar atGray's Inn in 1946, becoming a member of the Bar Council between 1951 and 1955, but abandoned law for a career in theCity of London. He became a director ofJ. Henry Schroder & Co in 1957, and was later chairman between 1962 and 1973.
He was appointed Governor of the Bank of England in 1973, and remained in that position until 1983. November 1973 saw a run on London and County Securities, marking the start of thesecondary banking crisis.
While serving as governor, Richardson joined thePrivy Council (1976) and was awarded theTerritorial Decoration (1979). He was created alife peer asBaron Richardson of Duntisbourne, of Duntisbourne in the County ofGloucestershire,[2] and a Knight Companion of theOrder of the Garter, both in 1983.[3]
In February 1978, Richardson delivered the inauguralMais Lecture, entitled "Reflections on the Conduct of Monetary Policy".[4] Since then, the annual lecture has come to be regarded as a leading event in the banking and financial community of the City of London, hosting each of the subsequentBank of England Governors, as well asPrime Ministers,Chancellors of the Exchequer, and European Central Bankers.
Richardson was a member of theMorgan Stanley advisory board from 1984. Between 1985 and 1991, he was a member of theGroup of Thirty, and thereafter remained as their Honorary Chair. He was chairman of thePilgrim Trust from 1984 to 1989.[5]
On the evening of 22 January 2010, the Bank of England released a statement announcing Richardson's death.[6]
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| Preceded by | Governor of the Bank of England 1973–1983 | Succeeded by |
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