baillie died in 1939 and, the following year, gifford was posted to new york on uk government business. however, the firm survived the war and the troubled investment climate which followed. after a period of strong growth in the firm’s staff and client base, gifford retired in 1965 at the age of 84. baillie gifford emerged from a further period of economic weakness in the uk during the 1970s with its position enhanced by growth in the amount of money it managed on behalf of clients.