Ian Lawson Johnston, 2nd Baron Luke

Who was Ian Lawson Johnston, 2nd Baron Luke?

Ian St John Lawson Johnston, 2nd Baron Luke, KCVO, TD, DL, JP, was a British Peer, businessman and philanthropist.

He was the eldest son of George Lawson Johnston, 1st Baron Luke and his wife Edith Laura St John. He was educated at Eton, and Trinity College, Cambridge and travelled in Australia and South America studying the beef industry. He followed his father in business, being Chairman of Bovril Ltd and the Argentine Estates of Bovril, Virol Ltd and Electrolux Ltd. He was also a Director of Ashanti Goldfields Corporation Ltd, Lloyds Bank Ltd, National Provincial Institution, Australian Mercantile Land and Finance Co Ltd and other Companies. During his time as director and chairman, Bovril expanded successfully and took over Marmite. After Luke’s retirement, the company was sold to Cavenham, owned by James Goldsmith. He was President of the London Chamber of Commerce from 1952 to 1955, and well known as the president of the Advertising Association from 1955 to 1958.

During World War II, Luke served as Lieutenant Colonel of the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. On the death of his father in 1943, he became 2nd Lord Luke. He was Chairman of Bedfordshire TAA in 1943, on the Duke of Gloucester's Red Cross and St John's Fund from 1943 to 1946 and on the London Hospitals Central Committee from 1943 to 1945. From 1949 to 1952, Lord Luke served as the first president of the National Association of Leagues of Hospital Friends, supporting volunteers in health and social care. From 1947 to 1952 he was a member of the Advisory Council of the BBC, and from 1947 to 1956 on the Moorfields Westminster and Central Eye Hospital Committee. He became a member of the Church Assembly in 1935 and was Chairman of the governors of Queen Mary College, University of London from 1963 to 1982 becoming a Fellow in 1980