Lord Hanson

James Edward, Baron Hanson (20th January 1922 - 1st November 2004) was an English conservative industrialist who built his businesses through the process of leveraged buyouts through Hanson plc.

With his close friend and ally Gordon White - later Lord White - he went on to set up the eponymous firm which was to make him a household name in 1964.

In its heyday Hanson's company was worth more than £11bn and had interests ranging from tobacco to chemicals. Over the next 30 years, Hanson went on an unprecedented acquisition spree, transforming itself into one of Britain's largest and most powerful companies.