Biography:
William Herbert Cooper
07/03/1901 –08/06/1970
William Herbert Cooper
View full burial details
SIR WILLIAM HERBERT COOPER: 1901- 1971
William was born in Berkhamsted on 7th March 1901. He was the eldest of three children[1] born to Richard Ashmole Cooper and his wife Alice. His parents had married in April 1901 and lived at Whitehill in Berkhamsted, but later moved to Ashlyns Hall. From Ashlyn’s Hall the family moved to Felden Lodge, Boxmoor and for a short period in 1915 occupied Shenstone Hall in Lichfield where William’s grandparents had lived. In 1917 the family moved to Billington Manor near Leighton Buzzard,[2] but by 1921 had returned to Berkhamsted and were living at The Kraal, White Hill.[3]
In 1905, William’s grandfather, Richard Powell Cooper was made a baronet for services to agriculture. When he died in 1913 the title passed to Richard’s father, passing in turn to William in 1946 when his father died and William became 3rd Baronet Cooper of Shenstone Court.
William was educated at Wellington School and Cambridge University and subsequently joined the family firm.
William was Master of Foxhounds, Hertfordshire 1927 – 1928. During the Second World War he served in the Royal Observer Corps and the RAF.
Following the death of his father in 1946 he not only inherited the baronetcy, but also became chairman of Cooper, McDougall & Robertson.[4] After continual production of sheep dip at Berkhamsted for 100 years, production of sheep dip was moved to Glasgow in 1952, but its popularity was waning due to its high toxicity. Berkhamsted was redeveloped to accommodate aerosol insecticides. In 1959 the company was acquired by Burroughs Wellcome.
In 1948 William married Eileen Dolores Hayes, a divorcee. He and Eileen had no children.
In 1956 William held the office of High Sherrif of Hertfordshire and he became a Justice of the Peace in 1957. He died on 8th June 1970 at the age of 69. As he had no issue, the baronetcy passed to his younger brother Francis.[5]
[1] William Herbert, 1901 – 1971; Richard Philip 1902- 1966; Francis Ashmole 1905 -1987.
[2] “Richard Ashmole Cooper (The End of an Era) – L. Mitchell, Chronicle, March 2009
[3] 1921 census
[4]William Cooper & Nephews Ltd had merged in 1925 with McDougall and Robertson Ltd of Manchester to form Cooper, McDougall & Robertson.
[5] Richard Philip, who was older than Francis, predeceased William, dying in 1966.
View this burial in the cemetery
SIR WILLIAM HERBERT COOPER: 1901- 1971
William was born in Berkhamsted on 7th March 1901. He was the eldest of three children[1] born to Richard Ashmole Cooper and his wife Alice. His parents had married in April 1901 and lived at Whitehill in Berkhamsted, but later moved to Ashlyns Hall. From Ashlyn’s Hall the family moved to Felden Lodge, Boxmoor and for a short period in 1915 occupied Shenstone Hall in Lichfield where William’s grandparents had lived. In 1917 the family moved to Billington Manor near Leighton Buzzard,[2] but by 1921 had returned to Berkhamsted and were living at The Kraal, White Hill.[3]
In 1905, William’s grandfather, Richard Powell Cooper was made a baronet for services to agriculture. When he died in 1913 the title passed to Richard’s father, passing in turn to William in 1946 when his father died and William became 3rd Baronet Cooper of Shenstone Court.
William was educated at Wellington School and Cambridge University and subsequently joined the family firm.
William was Master of Foxhounds, Hertfordshire 1927 – 1928. During the Second World War he served in the Royal Observer Corps and the RAF.
Following the death of his father in 1946 he not only inherited the baronetcy, but also became chairman of Cooper, McDougall & Robertson.[4] After continual production of sheep dip at Berkhamsted for 100 years, production of sheep dip was moved to Glasgow in 1952, but its popularity was waning due to its high toxicity. Berkhamsted was redeveloped to accommodate aerosol insecticides. In 1959 the company was acquired by Burroughs Wellcome.
In 1948 William married Eileen Dolores Hayes, a divorcee. He and Eileen had no children.
In 1956 William held the office of High Sherrif of Hertfordshire and he became a Justice of the Peace in 1957. He died on 8th June 1970 at the age of 69. As he had no issue, the baronetcy passed to his younger brother Francis.[5]
[1] William Herbert, 1901 – 1971; Richard Philip 1902- 1966; Francis Ashmole 1905 -1987.
[2] “Richard Ashmole Cooper (The End of an Era) – L. Mitchell, Chronicle, March 2009
[3] 1921 census
[4]William Cooper & Nephews Ltd had merged in 1925 with McDougall and Robertson Ltd of Manchester to form Cooper, McDougall & Robertson.
[5] Richard Philip, who was older than Francis, predeceased William, dying in 1966.
Relatives
Historical Connections
The following local places of interest are linked to William Herbert Cooper:
Coopers Chemical Works
Berkhamsted Castle
Ashlyns Hall
Sunnyside Church
White Hill
Military graves