Sir Alexander Maguire (died 20 January 1947) was a British industrialist who made his fortune from match manufacturing, producing the Maguire & Patterson brand amongst others.[1]
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In 1898 J. T. Maguire and his four sons – Alexander, David, Richard and Robert - left the Diamond Match Company of America to form Maguire, Miller & Co.[1] In the 1900s Maguire worked on the White Phosphorus Prohibition Act of 1908, for which he was knighted in 1918. In 1919, with the death of two of his brothers and the retirement of another, he took over the directorship of the company and formed Maguire, Paterson and Palmer.[1]. His niece Isobel Maguire married Brigadier George Taylor (soldier) CBE, Distinguished Service Order & Bar.
Maguire once owned Castle Tioram, on the island of Eilean Tioram, Scotland.[2]
In 1945 Maguire stayed in Upper Carlisle Road, Eastbourne. There he was treated by society doctor John Bodkin Adams, the suspected serial killer.[3] According to Olwen Williams, Maguire's nurse, Adams plied the patient with whisky despite him being "an inebriate". Maguire soon moved back to London where he died 18 months later from "chronic alcoholism".[3]
In 1939 his horse Workman won the Grand National, coming in at 100/8. It was ridden by Timmy Hyde and trained by Jack Ruttle.[4]