Charles Troughton

Sir Charles Hugh Willis Troughton CBE MC TD (27 August 1916 – 13 May 1991)[1] was a British businessman and barrister who was chairman of W H Smith, director of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, and chairman of the British Council.

Early life and education

Troughton was born in Chalfont St Giles[2] near Amersham, Buckinghamshire, the son of stockbroker Charles Vivian Troughton (1884–1955) and Constance Lilia "Scylla" Tate (1888–1973).[1]

Troughton was educated at Haileybury College (1930–35), followed by Trinity College, Cambridge, where he earned a BA with honours in 1938.[3]

He served with the 4th Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (1938–46). He was reported as missing in action in the summer of 1940, while a 2nd Lt.[4] Before the end of the war, he returned home, where he was educated at Inns of Court (1943), and was discharged from active duty in 1946.[3]

Career

Troughton was director of the retailer W.H. Smith & Son from 1949–77 and chairman (1972–77). He was also director of the Equity & Law Life Assurance Society PLC (1965–77); Thomas Tilling Ltd (1973–79); Barclays Bank (UK) Management (1973–81) and Barclays Bank International (1977–82).[3]

He was also chairman of the British Council (1977–84). He was also a director of Times Newspapers Holdings;[5] Whitbread & Co.;[6] and William Collins, Sons.[3]

Honours

Troughton was awarded the Military Cross in 1945.[7] He received the Territorial Efficiency Decoration in 1959, while a captain with the Territorial Army.[8]

Troughton was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1966 New Year Honours[9] and knighted in the 1977 Silver Jubilee and Birthday Honours.[10]

Personal life

In 1947, he married Constance Gillean Mitford, DL, OStJ. They had three sons, Peter, James, and Simon, and one daughter, Catrina. Their eldest son, Peter, a member of the Diplomatic Service, married courtier Sarah Colman, daughter of Sir Timothy Colman.[1]

References
  1. "Troughton, Sir Charles (Hugh Willis), (27 Aug. 1916–13 May 1991), Director, Whitbread Investment Co. Ltd, since 1981". Who's Who. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U175938. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  2. "Births". The Times. The Times Digital Archive. 30 August 1916. p. 1.
  3. Investment Trust Year Book & Who's Who 1985. Springer. 1985. p. 523. ISBN 978-1-349-81232-5. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  4. "Missing in action". The Times. The Times Digital Archive. 12 July 1940. p. 1.
  5. "New Times directors appointed". The Times. The Times Digital Archive. 15 June 1983. p. 16.
  6. "Sir Charles Troughton joins Whitbread board". The Times. The Times Digital Archive. 18 October 1978. p. 25.
  7. "No. 37321". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 October 1945. p. 5211.
  8. "No. 41812". The London Gazette. 8 September 1959. p. 5712.
  9. "No. 43854". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1965. p. 11.
  10. "No. 47234". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 June 1977. p. 7081.
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