John Garlick Llewellyn Poulson

Born April 14, 1910 - Died January 31, 1993

John Garlick Llewellyn Poulson was a British architect.

Poulson was born on April 14th, 1910 in Knottingley, England. He public schools and Leeds College of Art. Despite poor grades in school in secured a position at an Architecture firm. Before long he left to start his own firm with backing from his father.

Poulson was a workaholic. In his business in the 1930's during the depression he took full advantage working hard himself and demanding the same from his employees. He was known to have fired employees who did not work the same way he did.

In 1939, Poulson received a wartime exception for service during World War II.

Poulson through the 1940's and 1950's cultivated his business contacts. This included his sister's husband who became the head of British Airways and led it to the prosperity it has today. Other contacts he made during wartime were more personal relationships helping him in his business after the war. An example was a railway employee who Poulson befriended. Later a railway employees was put in charge of modernization of various railway stations. Many of which Poulson got the contracts.

Poulson also had visions of creating an international presence. He eventually expanded his business across the United Kingdom as well as offices in Beirut and Lagos, Nigeria.

In the late 1960's the post war boom Poulson had ridden, began to fall off. Poulson began selling off and closing down subsidiary companies. In 1969 he was formally removed as the head of his firm. In 1971 he filed personal bankruptcy. In 1972 it became even worse when a formal investigation of corruption was started against Poulson. In 1973 and 1974 he was tried and convicted of fraud. Some of his political contacts were convicted as well. Poulson maintained he was innocent throughout the trial and until the time of his death.

Despite the problems of his later life, Pouslon's company was responsible for several buildings around England. He also revolutionized the way architecture firms do business by creating an all in one model which brought several construction related disciplines under one roof.

Poulson passed away on January 31st, 1993.

Poulson was a member of Tateshall Lodge No. 7645 in Pontefract, England.

This article provided by Brother Eric C. Steele.