Robertson, William Francis, 1920-2005, shipowner

• Robertson, Frank

William Francis Robertson, known as Frank, was the grandson of William Robertson, the founder of William Robertson, shipowners. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge but left to join the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. In 1939, on the death of his father, William Francis Robertson, who was then running the business, Frank was released from the Navy so that he could join the business, which was then considered of national importance. In November 1940, he became a partner.

He retired as chairman of Robertson Research Group in 1982, but continued as a member of the board in the position of honorary president.

Frank Robertson also served on committees of Lloyd's Register of Shipping, on the boards of David MacBrayne Ltd, the British Linen Bank and the Bank of Scotland. He was also the first chairman of Court of the University of Strathclyde, steering the University through its formative years. He died in 2005.

ISAAR(CPF): International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families, International Council on Archives (2nd edition, 2003); Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names, National Council on Archives (1997).

Created by Victoria Peters, December 2010.