Alan Wilson was born in 1906 and graduated from Cambridge in 1926 and spent from 1926 - 1940 undertaking research in quantum theory at Cambridge. In September 1941 he was recruited into the radio communications laboratory of SOE where he began to re-organise and streamline its work. Towards the end of World War II Wilson hoped to obtain the Plummer Chair of Mathematical Physics at Cambridge but when this fell through the way was open for his move into industry.
Courtaulds approached Wilson in 1944 for advice on the establishment of a full scale research department following which Wilson was offered a seat on the Board as Director in Charge of Research and Development. Wilson finally accepted, under pressure from the head of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, intending to return to academic life after five years. However after formally joining Courtaulds in September 1945 he remained with Courtaulds for 17 years. The end of his involvement was marked by a takeover battle between ICI and Courtaulds. The chairman of ICI wished to amalgamate the two companies and make Courtaulds a subsidiary of ICI. After protracted negotiations ICI lost the stock market battle but still owned 38% of Courtauld's share capital.
Wilson was elected Chairman Designate of Courtaulds in July 1961, but following the stock market battle there was support for bringing in an external candidate. Finally Wilson stood down from his position and in March 1962 he resigned from the Board of Courtaulds.
In July 1962 he became a director of ICT (International Computers and Tabulators) and played a major role in the development of the British computer industry.
Wilson joined the Board of Glaxo Group in January 1963 and became Chairman in 1963. Glaxo had entered the pharmaceutical market fully after World War II and had taken over a number of other companies. Wilson headed the reorganisation of the Group into a new holding company, pushed Glaxo towards European markets and overhauled the its research policy. Wilson retired from Glaxo in 1973.
Throughout his career Wilson's had a wide record of public service - particularly in the area of encouraging scientific teaching and research. He died in 1995.
His publications include:
- The theory of metals (1936)
- Semi-conductors&metals: an introduction to the electron theory of metals(1939)
- Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics (1957)
- Report of the Committee on Coal Derivatives (1960)
