David Steel (businessman)

Sir David Edward Charles Steel DSO MC (29 November 1916 – 9 August 2004), was a British businessman, chairman of BP from 1975 to 1981 and of the Wellcome Trust.

Steel was educated at Rugby School, and University College, Oxford, where he received a bachelor's degree in law.

He was the son of Gerald Steel, private secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty throughout the First World War (and succeeded Winston Churchill in the job), and later general manager of the British Aluminium Company.

Steel was a tank commander in the Second World War, and was awarded a DSO and an MC.

At the end of 1974, he succeeded Sir Eric Drake as chairman of BP.