Sir Albert Charles Gladstone was born at Hawarden Castle, Flintshire, Wales, the eldest son of the Reverend Stephen Gladstone and Annie Wilson, and the grandson of the former Prime Minister, William Ewart Gladstone. As a 12-year-old, he attended William Gladstone’s state funeral. He was educated at Eton College and graduated from Christ Church, Oxford, in 1909 with a BA.
During his time at Oxford he was a member of the rowing eight and rowed for Oxford in the Boat Race on four occasions between 1906 and 1909. He was a member of the Christ Church eight that won the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 1908. Four weeks later, he was a crew member of the Leander eight, which won the gold medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1908 Summer Olympics.
He also rowed in the Leander boat that won the Grand Challenge Cup in 1913. His brother, Charles Andrew Gladstone, rowed with him in the Christ Church boat at Henley in 1908. The Olympic Regatta in 1908 was on the same Henley course.
Gladstone served in Mesopotamia and Gallipoli in WW1 and was Mentioned in Despatches. He was promoted to Captain in the 2nd/5th Gurkha Rifles, in the Indian Army Reserve, and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1919.
Gladstone was a successful businessman and held many important positions being a Director of the Bank of England from 1924 to 1947 and a senior partner of Ogilivy, Gillanders & Company, East India merchants. He was appointed Lieutenant of the City of London and was High Sheriff of the County of London in 1929. In 1935 he became Constable of Flint Castle and held the post until his death. He succeeded his cousin Sir John Evelyn Gladstone as baronet, on the latter’s death on 12 February 1945.
Albert Charles Gladstone (Rower) Born in Hawarden on 28 October, 1886; Died in Fordingbridge on 2 March, 1967.
