Malcolm MacLeod
Major-General Malcolm Neynoe MacLeod, (23 May 1882 – 1 August 1969) was a senior British Army officer who served as Director General of the Ordnance Survey from 1935 to 1943. In 1935, he started the retriangulation of Great Britain, an immense task that involved erecting concrete triangulation pillars (trig points) on prominent hilltops throughout Britain. MacLeod can fairly be said to be the creator of the Ordnance Survey in its modern form.
Also recorded as Malcolm Neynoe MacLeod · M. N. MacLeod · M. MacLeod
Malcolm MacLeod
Bassano Ltd · Public domain
- Name
- Malcom MacLeod
- Born
- 23 May 1882
- Died
- 1 August 1969
- Awards
- Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches
- Nationality
- United Kingdom
- Occupation
- cartographer · engineer · military personnel
- Education
- Rugby School · Royal Military Academy and Woolwich
- Honours
- Pollock Medal · Military Cross
- Languages
- English
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Major-General Malcolm Neynoe MacLeod, (23 May 1882 – 1 August 1969) was a senior British Army officer who served as Director General of the Ordnance Survey from 1935 to 1943. In 1935, he started the retriangulation of Great Britain, an immense task that involved erecting concrete triangulation pillars (trig points) on prominent hilltops throughout Britain. MacLeod can fairly be said to be the creator of the Ordnance Survey in its modern form.
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Malcolm MacLeod (1882–1969) was a British cartographer, engineer and military personnel. The cartographer was born in British Raj.
Malcolm MacLeod studied at Royal Military Academy, Woolwich and Rugby School. The cartographer worked for British Ordnance Survey and Survey of India.
Languages used include English. Malcolm MacLeod received Military Cross and Pollock Medal.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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wikidata · Q6742462
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Biography
Biography
MacLeod was commissioned in the Royal Engineers in 1900, serving in India from 1902 until 1914. During the First World War, he commanded the 4th Field Survey Battalion and was awarded the Military Cross in the 1917 New Year Honours. He became Chief Instructor at the School of Artillery, Larkhill in 1920, serving until 1923 when he moved to the Ordnance Survey. After attending the Staff College, Quetta. He was Director-General of the Ordnance Survey in 1935, retiring in 1943.
Key facts
Key facts
• Honorific Prefix — Major-General • Name — Malcom MacLeod • Born — 23 May 1882 • Died — 1 August 1969 • Allegiance — United Kingdom • Branch — British Army • Service Years — 1900–1943 • Rank — Major-General • Unit — Royal Engineers • Commands — Ordnance Survey 4th Field Survey Battalion • Battles — First World War Second World War • Awards — Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches
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Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1882
Malcolm MacLeod was born on 23 May 1882.
1969
Malcolm MacLeod died on 1 August 1969.
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Malcolm MacLeod was born at British Raj.
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Bibliography printed in the source article · 2
- Yolande Hodson, 2004, 'MacLeod, Malcolm Neynoe (1882–1969)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Smart, Nick. Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Pen & Sword. 2005. 1844150496.
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1- Military CrossTerminology
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Malcolm MacLeod is recorded with the occupation military personnel. Recorded as cartographer, engineer and military personnel.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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