The Lord Sempill | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | William Francis Forbes-Sempill 24 September 1893 |
| Died | 30 December 1965 (aged 72) |
| Nationality | British |
| Other names | Master of Sempill |
| Education | Eton College |
| Occupation(s) | Aeronautical engineer, pilot, diplomat, spy |
| Years active | 1914–1941 |
| Organization | President of the Royal Aeronautical Society |
| Known for | Aviation Sempill Mission Spy for Japan |
| Predecessor | John Forbes-Sempill, 18th Lord Sempill |
| Successor | Lords seat: Ann Forbes-Sempill, 20th Lady Sempill Baronetcy: Sir Ewan Forbes, 11th Baronet |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | Eileen Marion Lavery (1919–1935) Cecilia Alice Dunbar-Kilburn (1941–1965) |
| Children | Ann Moira, June Mary (by 1st marriage) Janet Cecilia, Kirstine Elizabeth, Brigid Gabriel (by 2nd) |
| Awards | Order of the Rising Sun, Japan Order of the Polar Star, Sweden. |
William Francis Forbes-Sempill, 19th Lord Sempill, AFC, FRAeS,[1] (24 September 1893 – 30 December 1965) was a Scottish peer and record-breaking air pioneer, who was later shown to have passed secret information to the Imperial Japanese military before the Second World War.[2] Educated at Eton, he began his career as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps, and then served in the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force during the First World War. In 1921, Sempill led an official military mission to Japan that showcased the latest British aircraft. In subsequent years, he continued to aid the Imperial Japanese Navy in developing its Navy Air Service.
In the 1920s, Sempill began giving military secrets to the Japanese. Although his activities were uncovered by British intelligence, Sempill was not prosecuted for spying and was allowed to continue in public life. He was eventually forced to retire from the Royal Navy in 1941, after being discovered passing on secret material to Tokyo shortly before Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and declared war on the United States and the British Empire.[3]
Sempill was known as "Master of Sempill" before succeeding his father to the titles of Lord Sempill and Baronet of Craigevar in 1934.
- ^ "R.Ae. Society Inaugural Lecture, 66th Session" (PDF), Flight: 1104, 3 October 1930
- ^ Mckillop, James (3 January 2002). "Air pioneer revealed as traitor who sold secrets to Japanese". The Herald.
- ^ Brooks, Richard (20 May 2012). "Traitor peer aided Pearl Harbor raid". Sunday Times.