William Stephenson
 William Stephenson     (spook, businessman, pilot) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1897-01-23 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Died | 1989-01-31 (Age 92) Paget, Bermuda |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Spouse | Mary French Simmons |
William Stephenson was in charge of the WW2 spooky group British Security Coordination.
Career
Winston Churchill instructed Stewart Menzies to appoint William Stephenson as the head of the British Security Coordination (BSC). Menzies told Gladwyn Jebb on 3rd June, 1940: "I have appointed Mr W.S. Stephenson to take charge of my organisation in the USA and Mexico. As I have explained to you, he has a good contact with an official (J. Edgar Hoover) who sees the President daily. I believe this may prove of great value to the Foreign Office in the future outside and beyond the matters on which that official will give assistance to Stephenson. Stephenson leaves this week. Officially he will go as Principal Passport Control Officer for the USA."
Legacy
Many people consider him to be one of the real-life inspirations for James Bond.[1] Ian Fleming himself once wrote, "James Bond is a highly romanticized version of a true spy. The real thing is ... William Stephenson."[2]
References
- ↑ "Street named for WW II spy hero", CBC television, 15 November 2009
- ↑ Preface to Room 3603 by H. Montgomery Hyde
