James George Weir

Air Commodore James George Weir, CMG, CBE (23 May 1887 – 7 November 1973) was an early Scottish aviator and airman. He was a successful industrialist who financed Juan de la Cierva's development of the autogiro.

James George Weir
Born(1887-05-23)23 May 1887
Cambuslang, Scotland
Died7 November 1973(1973-11-07) (aged 86)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army (1906–18)
Royal Air Force (1918–20)
Years of service1906–20
RankAir Commodore
Battles/warsFirst World War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy
Officer of the Legion of Honour (France)
Other workDirector of the Bank of England

Biography

Weir was born in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1887 the son of James Galloway Weir.

Weir was commissioned on 24 February 1906 as an officer in the 3rd (Renfrewshire) Volunteer Battalion, Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders).[1] On 1 April 1908 he transferred to the 3rd Highland (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.[1]

On 27 June 1911 Weir was found guilty of striking and knocking down on 13 April 1911 a former fiancee of his sister after he had broken off their engagement.[2]

Weir was awarded the 24th Royal Aero Club aviators certificate after flying a Bleriot Monoplane at Hendon on 8 November 1910. In 1914 he was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps.[1] He retired from the Royal Air Force on transfer to the Territorial Force.

In 1926 he helped form and became Chairman and Managing Director of the Cierva Autogiro Company.[3] He later, in 1935, became a Director of the Bank of England.[4] He was also deputy director of the engineering company G & J Weir Limited.[5] Weir commuted to work daily in an autogiro, and Alfred Hitchcock worked the aircraft into the film The 39 Steps.[6]

Honours and awards
  • 1 January 1918 Major (Temp./Lt. Col.) James George Weir, RFA, was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in recognition of valuable services in connection with the War.[7]
  • 8 November 1918 Lt.Col ) (A./Brig.-Genl.) James George Weir, CMG, (RFA) was appointed an Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy.[8]
  • 3 June 1919 appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
  • 11 July 1919 – Lt.-Col. (A./Brig.-Genl.) James George Weir, CMG, CBE (RA, TF) was appointed an Officer of the Légion d'honneur by the President of the French Republic.[9]
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See also

References
  1. Air Commodore J G Weir
  2. "A Glasgow Assault Case. A Broken-Off Engagement". Law. The Times (39623). London. 28 June 1911. col c, p. 7.
  3. "The Auto-Gyro. English Company Formed". News. The Times (44232). London. 29 March 1926. col c, p. 21.
  4. "Bank Of England Board A New Candidate For Election". Business and Finance. The Times (47013). London. 15 March 1935. col F, p. 23.
  5. "G. & J. Weir Limited". Business and Finance. The Times (50355). London. 21 January 1946. col A, p. 7.
  6. "Travelling at the edge of space". University of Strathclyde. 10 March 2010. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  7. "No. 30450". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1918. p. 8.
  8. "No. 30999". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 November 1918. p. 13200.
  9. "No. 31457". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 July 1919. p. 8986.
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