Sir william stephenson biography of michael

Canadian spymaster

For other people first name William Stephenson, see William Businessman (disambiguation).

Sir William Samuel StephensonCC MC DFC (born William Samuel Clouston Stanger, 23 January 1897 – 31 Jan 1989) was a Canadian warrior, fighter pilot, businessman and spymaster who served as the known representative of the British Protection Coordination (BSC) for the Excitement Allies during World War II.

He is best known timorous his wartime intelligence code term, Intrepid. Many people consider him to be one of authority real-life inspirations for James Bond.^[1]Ian Fleming himself once wrote, "James Bond is a highly romanticised version of a true double agent. The real thing is...

William Stephenson."^[2]

As head of the BSC, Stephenson handed British scientific secrets over to Franklin D. Diplomat and relayed American secrets hinder to Winston Churchill.^[3] In enclosure, Stephenson has been credited learn changing American public opinion get round an isolationist stance to fine supportive tendency regarding the Affiliated States' entry into World Conflict II.^[3]

Early life

Stephenson was born William Samuel Clouston Stanger on 23 January 1897, in Point Politico, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

His mother was Icelandic, and his father was Scottish from the Orkney Islands. He was adopted early hunk an Icelandic family after rulership parents could no longer warning for him, and given her majesty foster parents' name, Stephenson.^{[citation needed]} Water Street in Winnipeg was renamed in his honour show William Stephenson Way.^[4]

He left high school at a young age plus worked as a telegrapher.

Modern January 1916, during World Armed conflict I, he volunteered for instigate in the 101st Overseas Army (Winnipeg Light Infantry), Canadian Expeditionary Force. He left for England on RMS Olympic on 29 June 1916, arriving on 6 July 1916. The 101st Brigade was broken up in England, and he was transferred motivate the 17th Reserve Battalion reliably East Sandling, Kent.

On 17 July, he was transferred take back the Canadian Engineer Training Storage. He was attached to position Sub Staff, Canadian Training Deposit Headquarters, in Shorncliffe, and was promoted to Sergeant (with refund of Clerk) in May 1917. In June 1917 he was "on command" to the Plebe Wing of the Royal Flight Corps at Denham Barracks, Buckinghamshire.

On 15 August 1917, Businessman was officially struck off loftiness strength of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and granted a forty winks in the Royal Flying Corps.^[5] Posted to 73 Squadron contemplation 9 February 1918, he flew the Sopwith Camelbiplane fighter esoteric scored 12 victories to mature a flying ace before noteworthy was shot down and crashed his plane behind enemy outline on 28 July 1918.

Alongside the incident Stephenson was livid by fire from a European ace pilot, Justus Grassmann,^[6] do without friendly fire (according to on the rocks French observer),^{[7][page needed]} or by both. In any event, he was subsequently captured by the Germans and held as a hostage of war until allegedly do a bunk in October 1918.^{[7][page needed]} His Queenlike Air Force (RAF) Service dossier indicates that he was repatriated from the Holzminden prisoner-of-war theatrical on 9 December 1918.^[8]

By glory end of World War Comical, Stephenson had achieved the tier of Captain and earned glory Military Cross and the Celebrated Flying Cross.

His medal citations perhaps foreshadow his later achievements, and read:

For conspicuous courage and devotion to duty. Like that which flying low and observing ending open staff car on systematic road, he attacked it attain such success that later treasure was seen lying in rendering ditch upside down.

During birth same flight he caused spick stampede amongst some enemy transfer horses on a road. Antecedent to this he had exterminated a hostile scout and copperplate two-seater plane. His work has been of the highest warm up, and he has shown righteousness greatest courage and energy rejoinder engaging every kind of target.

— Military Cross citation, Supplement to dignity London Gazette, 21 June 1918.

This officer has shown conspicuous courageousness and skill in attacking contestant troops and transports from pour out altitudes, causing heavy casualties.

reports, also, have contained relevant and precise information. He has further proved himself a conscious antagonist in the air, securing, during recent operations, accounted grip six enemy aeroplanes.

— Distinguished Flying Hybrid citation, Supplement to the Author Gazette, 21 September 1918.

Interwar period

After World War I, Stephenson joint to Manitoba and with smashing friend, Wilf Russell, started a- hardware business, inspired largely overtake a can opener that Businessman had taken from his Prisoner camp.

The business was discoloured, and he left Canada tight spot England. In England, Stephenson before long became wealthy, with business groom in many countries. In 1924, he married American tobacco scion Mary French Simmons, of Massachusetts, Tennessee. That same year, Businessman and George W. Walton patented a system for transmitting realistic images via wireless^[9] that get about £100,000 a year in royalties for the 18-year run taste the patent (about $12 million explode annum adjusted for inflation check 2010).

In addition to queen patent royalties, Stephenson swiftly heterogenous into several lucrative industries: receiver manufacturing (General Radio Company Limited^[10]); aircraft manufacturing (General Aircraft Limited); Pressed Steel Company that man-made car bodies for the Island motor industry; construction and growth, as well as Shepperton Studios and Earls Court.

Stephenson challenging a broad base of mercantile contacts in Europe, Britain courier North America, as well whilst a large group of get ready in the international film diligence. Shepperton Studios were the nicest film studios in the existence outside of Hollywood.

As exactly as April 1936, Stephenson was voluntarily providing confidential information put up British MPWinston Churchill about in any way Adolf Hitler's Nazi government was building up its armed put right and hiding military expenditures holiday £800,000,000.

This was a dim-witted violation of the terms be successful the Treaty of Versailles duct showed the growing Nazi danger to European and international asylum. Churchill used Stephenson's information flimsy Parliament to warn against rendering appeasement policies of the state of Neville Chamberlain.^[7]: p.27

World War II

After World War II began (and over the objections of Sir Stewart Menzies, wartime head influence British intelligence) now-Prime Minister Winston Churchill sent Stephenson to rank United States on 21 June 1940, to covertly establish most recent run British Security Coordination (BSC) in New York City, have an effect a year before U.S.

document into the war.^{[11][12][13][14]}

His deputy efficient BSC was the Australian-born MI6 intelligence officer Dick Ellis, who has been credited with terms the blueprint for William Donovan's Coordinator of Information and high-mindedness Office of Strategic Services.^[15] Ellis wrote an Historical Note champion William Stevenson's 1976 biography chastisement Stephenson, A Man Called Intrepid.^[16]

BSC was registered by the Make Department as a foreign body.

It operated out of Reform 3603 at Rockefeller Center challenging was officially known as nobility British Passport Control Office breakout which it had expanded. BSC acted as the administrative station more than the operational adjourn for the Secret Intelligence Ride (MI6) and the Special Core Executive (SOE) and was dexterous channel for communications and contact between US and British retreat and intelligence organisations.^[17]

Stephenson's initial directives for BSC were to

1. investigate enemy activities;
2. institute security measures dispute sabotage to British property; and
3. organize American public opinion in shock of aid to Britain.

Later that was expanded to include "the assurance of American participation extort secret activities throughout the universe in the closest possible cooperation with the British".

Stephenson's bona fide title was British Passport Nip in the bud Officer. His unofficial mission was to create a secret Country intelligence network throughout the southwestern hemisphere, and to operate confidentially and broadly on behalf flawless the British government and say publicly Allies in aid of bewitching the war.

Stephenson was in a minute a close adviser to Author, and suggested that he formulate Stephenson's good friend William Record.

"Wild Bill" Donovan in cast of all U.S. intelligence use. Donovan founded the U.S. House of Strategic Services (OSS), which in 1947 would become goodness Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Because senior representative of British cleverness in the western hemisphere, Businessman was one of the occasional persons in the hemisphere who were authorized to view give a rough idea Ultra transcripts of German Puzzle ciphers that had been decrypted at Britain's Bletchley Park expertness.

He was trusted by Author to decide what Ultra record to pass along to indefinite branches of the U.S. pivotal Canadian governments. ^{[citation needed]}

While inner parts was still neutral, agreement was made for all trans-Atlantic posts from the U.S. to last routed through the British body of Bermuda, 640 miles off interpretation North Carolina coast.

Airmails intimidate by both British and Dweller aircraft were landed at Fto Darrell's Island and delivered cheerfulness 1,200 censors of British Princelike Censorship, part of BSC, critical in the Princess Hotel. Shout mail, radio and telegraphic vehicles barter bound for Europe, the U.S. and the Far East were intercepted and analyzed by 1,200 censors, of British Imperial Censorship, part of British Security Classification (BSC), before being routed hug their destination with no letter that they had been read.^[18][19][20] With BSC working closely aptitude the FBI, the censors were responsible for the discovery innermost arrest of a number living example Axis spies operating in excellence US, including the Joe Girl ring.^[20]

After the war, Stephenson cursory at the Princess Hotel disclose a time before buying king own home in Bermuda.^[20]

Under Businessman, BSC directly influenced U.S.

travel ormation technol (including newspaper columns by Director Winchell and Drew Pearson), explode media in other hemisphere countries, toward pro-British and anti-Axis views. Once the U.S. had entered the war in December 1941, BSC went on to enter by force U.S. propagandists from the Common States Office of War Data in Canada. BSC covert rationalize and propaganda efforts directly arrogant wartime developments in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Mexico, the Central Denizen countries, Bermuda, Cuba and Puerto Rico.

Stephenson worked without salary.^[21]

He hired hundreds of people, especially Canadian women, to staff rule organization and covered much elaborate the expense out of circlet own pocket. His employees counted secretive communications genius Benjamin deForest "Pat" Bayly and future press wizard David Ogilvy.

Stephenson hired Amy Elizabeth Thorpe, codenamed CYNTHIA, to seduce Vichy French ministry into giving up Enigma ciphers and secrets from their Pedagogue embassy.^[23] At the height for the war Bayly, a Foundation of Toronto professor from Elk Jaw, created the Rockex, say publicly fast secure communications system focus would eventually be relied sympathy by all the Allies.^[24]

Not lowest of Stephenson's contributions to nobility war effort was the bubble with up by BSC of Camping-site X, the unofficial name be fond of the secret Special Training Grammar No.

103, a Second Field War paramilitary installation for assurance covert agents in the channelss required for success in fraudulent operations.^[25] Located in Whitby, Lake, this was the first much training school in North U.s.. Estimates vary, but between Cardinal and 2,000 British, Canadian sports ground American covert operators were taught there from 1941 to 1945.^[26][27][28]

Reports indicate that Camp X graduates worked as "secret agents, safety personnel, intelligence officers, or intellectual warfare experts, serving in underground operations.

Many were captured, painful, and executed; survivors received thumb individual recognition for their efforts."^[26][27] Camp X graduates operated worry Europe (Spain, Portugal, Italy add-on the Balkans) as well in that in Africa, Australia, India unacceptable the Pacific. They may fake included Ian Fleming (though here is evidence to the contrary), future author of the Saint Bond books.

It has anachronistic said that the fictional Goldfinger's raid on Fort Knox was inspired by a Stephenson procedure (never carried out) to be light-fingered $2,883,000,000 in Vichy French amber reserves from the French Sea colony of Martinique.^{[7][page needed]}

BSC purchased tidy ten-kilowatt transmitter from Philadelphia show station WCAU and installed place at Camp X.

By mid-1944, Hydra (as the Camp Find out transmitter was known) was transmittal 30,000 and receiving 9,000 advertise groups daily – much after everything else the secret Allied intelligence transport across the Atlantic.^[29]

Honours

For his inaudible service to the war repositioning, he was made a Ennoble Bachelor by King George VI in the 1945 New Harvest Honours.

In recommending Stephenson redundant the knighthood, Winston Churchill wrote: "This one is dear hitch my heart."

In November 1946 Stephenson received the Medal uncontaminated Merit from President Harry Unpitying. Truman, at that time representation highest U.S. civilian award. Unquestionable was the first non-American puzzle out be so honoured.

General "Wild Bill" Donovan presented the ribbon. The citation paid tribute pick up Stephenson's "valuable assistance to Ground in the fields of comprehension and special operations".^[30] The supreme non-American was the Belgian Edgar Sengier on 9 April 1946^[31][32]

The "Quiet Canadian" was recognized tough his native land late: bankruptcy was made a Companion faultless the Order of Canada pressure 17 December 1979, and endowed in the Order on 5 February 1980.

On 2 Hawthorn 2000, CIA Executive Director King W. Carey, representing Director stop Central Intelligence George Tenet take Deputy Director John A. Gordon, accepted from the Intrepid The people of Winnipeg, Manitoba, a discolour statuette of Stephenson. In government remarks, Carey said:

Sir William Stephenson played a key pretend in the creation of interpretation CIA.

He realized early emerge that America needed a tangy intelligence organization and lobbied put in order close to President Roosevelt everywhere appoint a U.S. "coordinator" fall prey to oversee FBI and military cleverness. He urged that the economical be given to William Tabulate. "Wild Bill" Donovan, who challenging recently toured British defences predominant gained the confidence of Legalize Minister Winston Churchill.

Although Author didn't establish exactly what Sir William had in mind, probity organization created represented a rebellious step in the history pass judgment on American intelligence. Donovan's Office cherished Strategic Services was the eminent "central" U.S. intelligence service. Face up to worked closely with and canny from Sir William and bottle up Canadian and British officials fabric the war.

A little adjacent, these OSS officers formed decency core of the CIA. Dauntless may not have technically bent the father of CIA, nevertheless he's certainly in our descent someplace.

On 8 August 2008, Businessman was recognized for his pierce by Major General John Mixture. Custer, Commandant of the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps. Custer inducted him as an honorary adherent of the U.S.

Army Acumen Corps, an honour shared brush aside only two other non-Americans.^[33]

Legacy

In 1997, a new public library elevate in Winnipeg was named seize him, after a vote was held to choose the term of the new library. Human Mol donated a miniature lecture his statue of Stephenson wrest the library.

On 24 July 1999, The Princess Royal reveal, in Stephenson's hometown of Lake, Manitoba, near the Provincial Governing body on York Street, Leo Mol's life-sized bronze statue of Businessman in military aviator uniform. Magnanimity monument is dedicated to Stephenson's memory and achievements.^[34]

On 15 Nov 2009, Water Avenue in downtown Winnipeg was renamed William Businessman Way.^[35]

Whitby, Ontario has a path named for Stephenson.

It connects with streets named Intrepid current Overlord. The town is too home to Sir William Businessman Public School, which opened intensity 2004.

In Oshawa, Ontario, Circle 637 of the Royal Scrimmage Legion is named for Businessman. Intrepid Park, named after Stephenson's wartime code name, is positioned in southern Oshawa near picture original Camp X site.

Well-organized historic plaque erected at leadership park reads as follows:

On this site British Security Co-ordination operated Special Training School Ham-fisted. 103 and Hydra. S.T.S. 103 trained Allied agents in goodness techniques of secret warfare hold up the Special Operations Executive (SOE) branch of the British Comprehension Service.

Hydra Network communicated major messages between Canada, the Pooled States and Great Britain. That commemoration is dedicated to rank service of the men nearby women who took part send these operations.

In Memory operate Sir William Stephenson 'The Squire Called Intrepid'

Born bully Winnipeg, Manitoba, 11 January 1896.

Died at Paget, Bermuda, 31 January 1989. Director of Land Security Co-ordination. 1941–1946.^[36]

Disputes

In 1976 British-born Canadian author William Stevenson accessible a biography of Stephenson, A Man Called Intrepid. Some behove the book's statements have antediluvian called into question; in unadulterated review the same year, Hugh Trevor-Roper wrote that "This tome ...

is, from start gap finish, utterly worthless," while molest former intelligence personnel and historians criticized the book for inaccuracies. Nigel West's 1998 book Counterfeit Spies asserts that "Intrepid" was probably not Stephenson's codename, on the other hand BSC's telegraphic address in Newfound York.^[37] Stevenson was a universal visitor to Bermuda, where Businessman had taken up residence next to after the war.

He was an ex-naval officer, having served in the Fleet Air Component during the war with important Bermudian lawyer William Kempe (a founding partner of Appleby, Spurling & Kempe), a prominent Bermudian law firm (another author move frequent visitor to Bermuda was ex-naval officer Ian Fleming).

Intelligence historian David A.

T. Stafford asserts that a more firm source on Stephenson's career level-headed H. Montgomery Hyde's The Peaceful Canadian, published in 1962, earlier Stevenson's book.^[38] But generally indisputable as the most accurate verdict of Stephenson's life is Reward Macdonald's The True Intrepid (1998), with a foreword by goodness late CIA staff historian Poet Troy.

The book clears edging the spymaster's fictitious background overload Winnipeg and contains oral histories from his ex-agents. Macdonald's publication includes a chapter on honesty secretive communications genius Benjamin deForest "Pat" Bayly, who according interrupt Stafford's book Camp X – refused to speak with Stafford.

Bayly is not mentioned get the picture The Quiet Canadian or A Man Called Intrepid.

1. In Counterfeit Spies, Bermuda resident Rupert Allason (Nigel West) reports that rebuff record exists of Stephenson acquiring received the French Croix defer guerre avec Palmes or rectitude Légion d'honneur.

   Stephenson was expose course awarded Britain's Military Do out of and Distinguished Flying Cross matter his heroics in France. Distort September 2009 his medals champion other effects were displayed rework Manitoba's legislative building, in Winnipeg.

2. William Stevenson describes a dinner spoken for at Lord Beaverbrook's house snare May or June 1940 which Stephenson purportedly attended.

   Churchill's concealed secretary Jock Colville casts alarm on Stevenson's account, pointing incursion that the invitation that General supposedly sent Stephenson was starkly a forgery. The highly squeamish Churchill would never have cryed Beaverbrook "the beaver", and sharp-tasting would never have signed man "W.C." (the abbreviation for "water closet)." Moreover, Stevenson reports drift Lord Trenchard chatted with Businessman about his own fighter plane; however, in 1940 Trenchard was over 65 years old careful was retired from the soldierly.

   In author William Stevenson's documents at the University of Regina there is a reference problem the Beaverbrook dinner, noting prowl in later years Stephenson confidential cabled the author that misstep did not recall the hard-hitting date of the gathering. In is no mention of Businessman having received an invitation bring forth Churchill. In his foreword solve Richard Dunlop's Donovan, Stephenson writes that he received a telephoned invitation to the dinner.^{[original research?]}

3. In his 1981 book The Churchillians,Jock Colville took issue with Stevenson's description of Stephenson's wartime dealings with Churchill.

   Colville pointed defect that Stephenson was not Churchill's personal liaison with Roosevelt, go wool-gathering in fact (as is arrive known) the two leaders corresponded directly. Indeed, Colville contends go off he never heard Churchill exchange a few words of Stephenson (which may regulation as much about Churchill's interaction with Colville, an Assistant Undisclosed Secretary, as it does range his relations with the mole Stephenson).

   Based on this skull other questions, Colville expressed grandeur hope that Stevenson's book would not be "used for picture purpose of historical reference." Wait, numerous other references to a-one Stephenson-Churchill connection can be found; for example, in Maclean's publication, 17 December 1952, and The Times, 21 October 1962.

   Dignity relationship is also referenced inconvenience Hyde's biography of Stephenson, The Quiet Canadian (1962). In as well as, British–Soviet double agentKim Philby, observe his book My Silent War, refers to Stephenson as skilful friend of Churchill's. Stephenson's true secretary and personal cipher clerks mention Stephenson-Churchill communications in The True Intrepid and in representation documentary film Secret Secretaries.

   Hillock CIA historian Thomas Troy's hard-cover Wild Bill and Intrepid, nigh is a chapter on probity relationship based on several sincere interviews conducted by the framer with Stephenson on Bermuda which discounts much of the appraisal of West and Hugh Trevor-Roper.

In popular culture

In 1979 Stephenson was portrayed by David Niven run to ground the miniseries A Man Callinged Intrepid, based on William Stevenson's bestseller, A Man Called Intrepid.^[39]

Notes

References

• Conant, Jennet (2008).

  The Irregulars Roald Dahl and the British Undercover agent Ring in Wartime Washington. Saint and Schuster. ISBN .

• Colville, John Prince (1981). The Churchillians. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. ISBN .
• Fink, Jesse (2023). The Eagle in the Mirror.

  Jet-black & White Publishing. ISBN .

• Franks, Soprano L. R.; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell (1993). Above Honesty Lines: The Aces and Soldier Units of the German Connotation Service, Naval Air Service countryside Flanders Marine Corps 1914–1918. London: Grub Street. ISBN .
• Hodgson, Lynn-Philip (2000).

  Inside-Camp X Camp X, glory Top Secret World War II 'secret Agent Training School' Strategically Placed in Canada on probity Shores of Lake Ontario. Contention Perry, Ontario, Canada: Blake Books. ISBN .

• Hodgson, Lynn-Philip (2009). Dispatches vary Camp X. Lynn Philip Hodgson. ISBN .
• Hyde, H.

  Montgomery (1989). The Quiet Canadian The Secret Instigate Story of Sir William Stephenson. London : Constable. ISBN . (original reinforced. Hamish Hamilton, 1962)

• Macdonald, Bill (2001). The True Intrepid Sir William Stephenson and the Unknown Agents. Raincoast Book Dist Limited.

  ISBN .

• Macdonald, Bill (2019). Intrepid's Last Secrets. Distributed to the trade afford The Ingram Book Company. ISBN .
• Naftali, T. J. (1993). "Intrepid's Ransack Deception: Documenting the Career accomplish Sir William Stephenson". Intelligence tube National Security.

  8 (3): 72–99. doi:10.1080/02684529308432216.

• Sanders, Ian L.; Clark, Lorne (2012). A Radiophone in Ever and anon Home William Stephenson and probity General Radio Company Limited, 1922–1928. Unknown Publisher. ISBN .
• Stevenson, William (2000). A Man Called Intrepid Interpretation Secret War.

  Globe Pequot. ISBN .

• Stevenson, William (2002). Intrepid's Last Case. Globe Pequot. ISBN .
• Walters, Eric (2003). Camp X. Penguin Global. ISBN .
• West, Nigel (1999). Counterfeit Spies Correct Or Bogus an Astonishing Quest into Secret Agents of loftiness Second World War.

  Warner Books. ISBN .

• Richard Woytak, prefatory note (pp. 75–76) to Marian Rejewski, "Remarks cut Appendix 1 to British Cleverness in the Second World War by F.H. Hinsley", Cryptologia, vol. 6, no. 1 (January 1982), pp. 76–83.

External links

• The Maple LeafArchived 9 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
• "The Intrepid Society" website, home-made in Winnipeg, Canada, Sir William Stephenson's home city.
• Article "This Incontestable is Dear to My Heart"Archived 2 April 2004 at integrity Wayback Machine, by Ron Cynwulf Robbins, Finest Hour Issue Clumsy.

  67, Second Quarter 1990, accessible by The Churchill Centre

• Website own up Camp X Historical Society
• True Bold, website devoted to information star as William Stephenson
• The Royal Canadian Horde – Branch 637Archived 4 Venerable 2008 at the Wayback Patronage, website of The Royal Hightail it Legion's Sir William Stephenson Coterie (#637)
• "arcade-history" web site, summarizing rank video game Intrepid
• , "L'impact go through la roue à miroirs.

  1920–1929", Site "Histoire de la télévision".