Edward Beddington-Behrens
| Edward Beddington-Behrens | |
|---|---|
| Born |
February 2, 1897 Paris, France |
| Died | November 28, 1968 (aged 71) London, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British |
| Military career | |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Royal Field Artillery |
| Awards |
Military Cross and bar Order of St Michael and St George |
Major Sir Edward Beddington-Behrens CMG MC* (2 February 1897 – 28 November 1968) was a British soldier, businessman and patron of the arts, and a leading advocate of European co-operation.
Beddington-Behrens was born in Paris in 1897, where his father, Walter Behrens, was President of the British Chamber of Commerce. He was educated at Charterhouse School, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.
In 1915, Beddington-Behrens was commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery, winning the Military Cross in 1917, with bar added in 1918. His twin brother 2nd Lt. Walter Louis Behrens, Royal Field Artillery, was killed in action in 1917.
After the war, he studied at Christ Church, Oxford and took a Ph.D in economics at the University of London, before becoming one of the British representatives at the League of Nations. In 1932, he published A Practical Monetary Policy for the Ottawa Conference.
When World War II broke out, Beddington-Behrens was called up from the Territorial Army, and served in Belgium prior to Dunkirk, and later as a staff officer at Coleshill House.
He pursued a successful career in business, with interests in engineering, shipping and textiles. He was Chairman of the Ocean Trust Ltd, Gray’s Carpets and Textiles and Jeremiah Ambler and Sons.
In the 1953 Coronation honours, Beddington-Behrens was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, in recognition of his work on European co-operation. He served as Chairman of the British Committee of the European League for Economic Cooperation, later becoming President of the European Movement, for which he was knighted in 1957. In 1966, he published Is There Any Choice? Britain Must Join Europe.
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