George Bolton (banker)

Sir George Bolton
Sir George Bolton in 1970
Born	16 October 1900 Hackney, London, England
Died	2 September 1982(1982-09-02) (aged 81) Westminster, London, England
Occupation	Banker

Sir George Lewis French Bolton KCMG (16 October 1900 – 2 September 1982) was a British banker who was noted for his expertise in the foreign exchange market and as a leading influence on the rebirth of London after the Second World War. He served as director of the Bank of England, chairman for the Bank of London and South America and executive director of the International Monetary Fund. He twice served as High Sheriff of the County of London.

Bolton was born in Lower Clapton, Hackney, London in 1900, the son of William Bolton, a shipping clerk, and Beatrice (née French). He went to school at Leyton County High school in Waltham Forest. At age 16, he joined the London branch of the Société Générale de Paris to be trained as an exchange dealer. In 1920, he joined the merchant banking firm of Helbert, Wagg & Co., and learned the trade in London and Paris. At Helbert, Wegg, & Co., Bolton started and managed a successful foreign exchange dealing department. After the Bank of England had abandoned the gold standard in 1931, the bank sought out Bolton for his expertise in this industry. In 1933, Bolton joined the Bank of England, where he was largely responsible for the market management of sterling exchange rate, using the resources of the Exchange Equalisation Account created by Neville Chamberlain the previous year.