Coal Baron. Born in Rosewell (Midlothian), the son of mining engineer and entrepreneur Archibald Hood (1823 - 1902). Hood was educated at Rosewell, Bristol, the Mining School at Mons (Belgium) and the University of Edinburgh. He moved with his parents to South Wales in 1867 but later returned to Scotland to manage his father's interests at Rosewell, living in the old family home at Rosedale House. Following the merger with the Marquess of Lothian's pits, he became General Manager of the Lothian Coal Company. On his father's death, Hood became Managing Director and then Chairman of the company (1911). In 1924 he endowed a Chair in Mining at the University of Edinburgh and was awarded an honorary degree by the same institution in 1928. By that time he was a respected captain of industry, holding directorships across a range of industries.
One of his daughters married Sir Philip Dundas of Arniston, who also had coal interests in the area, and her family still live at Arniston House.
Hood died at his home, Midfield House near Bonnyrigg, and was buried at Rosewell.
