Harry Gilpin

Who was Harry Gilpin?

Edmund Henry Gilpin, known as Harry Gilpin, was a British politician and company director.

Born to a Quaker family, Gilpin went to school in Ackworth, West Riding of Yorkshire, then in 1891 went to work in the warehouse of Joseph Baker. He was rapidly promoted in the company, becoming a director in 1913. He served with Red Cross during World War I, resigning from the Quakers because he supported the war.

In 1920, Gilpin led the merger of the company to form Baker Perkins Ltd. He also became active in the Liberal Party, standing unsuccessfully for the party in Finsbury at the 1922 UK general election. Although he never stood for Parliament again, he remained politically active, taking part in the Liberal Industrial Inquiry, and later serving on a committee of the Board of Trade.

From 1943 until 1946, Gilpin was the Chairman of the Liberal Party, a period which included the party's poor result at the 1945 UK general election. Gilpin was knighted in 1949, and died the following year.