Basil Jackson

Jackson was born in St John's, Newfoundland Colony, the son of Sir Henry Moore Jackson, a British colonial governor, and Emily Corbett Shea, daughter of Sir Edward Dalton Shea.

In December 1915, Jackson was commissioned as a second lieutenant (on probation) in the Royal Garrison Artillery. He later held the rank of captain.

Jackson joined the (then) Anglo-Persian/Anglo-Iranian group in 1921 and became a director in 1948. He was working in the oil industry and living in New York City during the 1930 and 1940 Censuses. He later served as deputy chairman and, in 1956, succeeded William Fraser as chairman of British Petroleum.

Jackson chaired BP during a period that included the immediate aftermath of the Suez Crisis and associated disruptions to oil transport routes to Europe. He retired at the end of January 1957. Neville Gass succeeded him as chairman later in 1957.

Jackson died in London on 29 March 1957, aged 64.