Sir George Alexander Touche, 1st Baronet (/ˈtʃ/; born Touch;[1] 24 May 1861 – 7 July 1935) was a British accountant and politician. He founded one of the firms which amalgamated to create Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

Sir George Touche
Touche in 1915
Member of Parliament
for Islington North
In office
1910–1918
Personal details
Born
George Alexander Touch

(1861-05-24)24 May 1861
Edinburgh, Scotland
Died7 July 1935(1935-07-07) (aged 74)
Alma materUniversity of Edinburgh
OccupationAccountant

Early life and career

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Touche was born on 24 May 1861 in Edinburgh, the son of a banker. He was educated at the Bonnington Academy, the Edinburgh Institution, and the University of Edinburgh and was indentured to a chartered accountant in 1878. In 1883 he was admitted to the Society of Accountants in Edinburgh and immediately left for London, joining the firm of Broads, Patterson & May.

Later career

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In 1889 he was appointed first secretary of the Industrial and General Trust, later becoming manager, director in 1898, and chairman in 1908. He also became director and chairman of many other companies. In 1899 he founded his own practice, George A. Touch & Co.

In 1910 he was elected as the Conservative Member of Parliament for North Islington, but retired due to ill-health in 1918.

He was knighted in 1917 and created a baronet for his political services in the 1920 Birthday Honours.[2][3]

He died on 7 July 1935.

Footnotes

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  1. ^ He added the final "e" in 1906 because people continually mispronounced his name.
  2. ^ "No. 31931". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 June 1920. p. 6314.
  3. ^ "No. 32035". The London Gazette. 31 August 1920. p. 8860.

References

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Baronetage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baronet
(of Westcott)
1920–1935
Succeeded by
Norman Touche
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Islington North
December 19101918
Succeeded by