Alexander Kaye Butterworth

Sir Alexander Kaye Butterworth (1854–1946) was the General Manager of the North Eastern Railway and also chairman of the Railway Executive during the First World War. He was the father of the composer George Butterworth (1885–1916)

Personal life Butterworth was born on 4 December 1854 at Clifton, Bristol, Gloucestershire, He was educated at Marlborough College from August 1868 to March 1874,

Butterworth married Julia Marguerite Wigan at St Margaret's, Westminster on 16 July 1884. Their son George became a composer.

Career Butterworth qualified for The Bar in 1878, and qualified as a solicitor in 1883. He gained his Bachelor of Law degree in 1884, He then joined the Great Western Railway, working in its legal department. During 1889 and 1890, Butterworth played a leading role in the Railway Rates Inquiry, acting for the English, Irish and Scottish railway companies. In 1890, he was appointed a Clerk of the Peace for Bedfordshire, a position he held for six months, In 1905, he succeeded Sir George Gibb as General Manager.

During the First World War, in addition to his position with the NER, Butterworth was appointed chairman of the Railway Executive Committee, Butterworth served on the Civil Service Arbitration Board from 1917 to 1920.

Death Butterworth died on 23 January 1946 at his home in Hampstead, Middlesex following a short illness.