William Wallace

Sir William Wallace CBE FRSE LLD (25 August 1881–27 May 1963) was a 20th-century Scottish marine engineer and influential businessman. He was Chairman of Brown Brothers for over 40 years, mainly involved in the technology behind ship construction rather than their design per se. He was involved with ship design and technological advancement during both world wars, but his ideas were not always successful: including the ill-fated K-class submarines. Life He was born in Leicester on 25 August 1881 the son of Matthew Wallace of Paisley. The family returned to Paisley in his youth and he was educated at Paisley Grammar School. From 1895 he was apprenticed as an engineer at Bow, McLachlan and Company at the Thistle Works at Abbotsinch. He also undertook formal training at Anderson College in Glasgow. He then joined the British and Burmese Steam Navigation Company as Chief Engineer. In 1910 he joined Brown Brothers in Leith as an engineer. He originally lived in a small flat at 116 Easter Road. He rose rapidly becoming Managing Director in 1916 aged 35. He remained Managing Director until 1957 also becoming Chairman in 1947.