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[[Image:SOEstephenson.JPG|right|thumb|200px|'''William Stephenson''']] '''Sir William Samuel Stephenson''' (January 23, 1897 – January 31, 1989) was a Canadian [[soldier]], industrialist, scientist, inventor, businessman, and the senior [[representative]] of British intelligence for the entire secret British intelligence network during [[World War II]]. He has been considered a real life [[James Bond]].

[[Image:SOEstephenson.JPG|right|thumb|200px|'''William Stephenson''']] '''Sir William Samuel Stephenson''' (January 23, 1897 – January 31, 1989) was a Canadian [[soldier]], industrialist, scientist, inventor, businessman, and the senior [[representative]] of British intelligence for the entire secret British intelligence network during [[World War II]]. He has been considered a real life [[James Bond]].

Stephenson attended high [[school]] in Winnipeg, however left to fight in [[World War I]]. After serving in the trenches and being gassed by Germans he learned how to fly during the period he was recuperating. <ref>http://www.winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=751</ref> He would go on to transfer from the [[army]] to the Royal Flying Corps. He later earned the Military Cross, the [[Distinguished Flying Cross]] and other decorations. After the war he became a wealthy industrialist with business contacts throughout the globe.  

Stephenson attended high [[school]] in Winnipeg, however left to fight in [[World War I]]. After serving in the trenches and being gassed by Germans he learned how to fly during the period he was recuperating.<ref>http://www.winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=751</ref> He would go on to transfer from the [[army]] to the Royal Flying Corps. He later earned the Military Cross, the [[Distinguished Flying Cross]] and other decorations. After the war he became a wealthy industrialist with business contacts throughout the globe.  

Working as a [[spy]] for the British [[government]] in the 1930's, he voluntarily provided information about [[Nazi]] [[Germany]] building up it's armed forces and [[military]] strength. In 1940, Stephenson was appointed by British Prime Minister [[Winston Churchill]] to set up and run British Security Co-ordination, a sprawling [[New York]]-based intelligence operation. <ref>http://www.trueintrepid.com/CndPress.htm</ref> There he and his agents tracked enemy communications and Nazi sympathizers. He used his title as a British Passport Control Officer to create a secret British intelligence network throughout the Western Hemisphere and would became Churchill's personal representative to [[President]] [[Franklin Roosevelt]]. In 1946 he received the the Presidential Medal for Merit, at the time the highest civilian decoration in the [[United States]], given mostly to people who contributed to the effort during World War II.

Working as a [[spy]] for the British [[government]] in the 1930's, he voluntarily provided information about [[Nazi]] [[Germany]] building up it's armed forces and [[military]] strength. In 1940, Stephenson was appointed by British Prime Minister [[Winston Churchill]] to set up and run British Security Co-ordination, a sprawling [[New York]]-based intelligence operation.<ref>http://www.trueintrepid.com/CndPress.htm</ref> There he and his agents tracked enemy communications and Nazi sympathizers. He used his title as a British Passport Control Officer to create a secret British intelligence network throughout the Western Hemisphere and would became Churchill's personal representative to [[President]] [[Franklin Roosevelt]]. In 1946 he received the the Presidential Medal for Merit, at the time the highest civilian decoration in the [[United States]], given mostly to people who contributed to the effort during World War II.

Stephenson died in [[Bermuda]] in January 1989 at the age of 93.

Stephenson died in [[Bermuda]] in January 1989 at the age of 93.