George Kynoch (businessman)

George Kynoch (22 August 1834 – 28 February 1891) was the founder of IMI plc, one of the United Kingdom's largest engineering businesses.

Born at Peterhead in Aberdeenshire and educated at the local school, George Kynoch first worked as an insurance clerk in Glasgow and then as a bank clerk in Worcester. After working for a while at larger bank branch in Birmingham, in 1856 he decided to join Pursall & Phillips, ammunition manufacturers, in Birmingham. In September 1861 he proceeded to set up his own ammunition business on four acres of land that he acquired at Witton near Handsworth. The Lion Works, as it became known, quickly secured contracts to supply ammunition to the British and Turkish Governments. In 1884 his interests were bought out and he was simply employed as Managing Director.

In 1886, he became Member of Parliament for Aston Manor and in 1887 he was appointed President of Aston Villa Football Club. These roles distracted him from his business and in 1888 he was forced to resign: he emigrated to South Africa and died in Johannesburg in 1891.

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