wˈaɪt wʌzðə sˈʌn əvɚ ɹᵻtˈaɪɚd wˈɑːtʃmeɪkɚ, səplˈaɪɚɹ ʌv kɹənˈɑːmɪɾɚz tə ðɪ ˈædmɚɹəlɾi ænd dᵻɹˈɛktɚɹ ʌv wˈaɪt ænd pˈɑːp kˈʌstəmɚz swˈɪft ænd sˈɪŋɚ.
White was the son of a retired watchmaker, supplier of chronometers to The Admiralty and director of White and Poppe customers Swift and Singer.