George Geoffrey Dawson (25 October 1874 – 7 November 1944) was editor of The Times from 1912 to 1919 and again from 1923 until 1941. His original last name was Robinson, but he changed it in 1917. He married Hon. Margaret Cecilia Lawley, daughter of Arthur Lawley, 6th Baron Wenlock, in 1919.
Dawson was born 25 October 1874, in Skipton-in-Craven, Yorkshire, the eldest child of George Robinson, a banker, and his wife Mary (née Perfect). He attended Eton College and Magdalen College, Oxford. His academic career was distinguished; he took a First in Classical Moderations in 1895 and a First in Literae Humaniores ('Greats') in 1897.[1] In 1898 he was elected a fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, a position he held for the rest of his life.[2] He chose a career in civil service, entering in 1898 by open examination. After a year at the Post Office, he was transferred to the Colonial Office and in 1901 he was selected as assistant private secretary to Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain. Later the same year Dawson obtained a similar position with Lord Milner, high commissioner in South Africa.[3]
As Milner's assistant, Dawson participated in the establishment of British administration in South Africa in the aftermath of the Boer War. While there, he became a member of "Milner's kindergarten",[4] a circle of young administrators and civil servants whose membership included Leo Amery, Bob Brand, Philip Kerr, Richard Feetham, John Buchan and Lionel Curtis. United by a common aspiration for Imperial Federation, all later became prominent in the "round table of Empire Loyalists".[5]
Career in journalismedit
Milner wanted to ensure the support of the local newspapers after his return to England. He persuaded the owners of the Johannesburg Star to appoint Dawson as the paper's editor. Dawson later parlayed this post into a position as the Johannesburg correspondent of The Times in February 1911; and then attracted the attention of Lord Northcliffe, owner of The Times, who appointed him editor of the paper in July 1912.[6]
Dawson was unhappy, however, with the way that Northcliffe used the paper as an instrument to further his own personal political agenda and broke with him, stepping down as editor in February 1919. Dawson returned to the post in 1923 after Lord Northcliffe's death, when the paper's ownership had passed to John Jacob Astor V. Bob Brand had become the Astors' brother-in-law, and it is thought that he introduced Dawson to the Astors' circle at Cliveden, the so-called Cliveden set presided over by Nancy Astor. [citation needed]
In his second stint as editor, Dawson began to use the paper in the same manner as Lord Northcliffe had once done, to promote his own agenda. He also became a leader of a group of journalists that sought to influence national policy by private correspondence with leading statesmen. Dawson was close to both Stanley Baldwin and Neville Chamberlain. He was a prominent proponent and supporter of appeasement policies, after Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany. He was a member of the Anglo-German Fellowship.[7] Candid news despatches from Berlin by Norman Ebbutt that warned of warmongering were rewritten in London to support the appeasement policy.[8][9] Dawson explained to Lord Lothian on 23 May 1937: "I should like to get going with the Germans. I simply cannot understand why they should apparently be so much annoyed with The Times at this moment. I spend my nights in taking out anything which I think will hurt their susceptibilities and in dropping little things which are intended to soothe them".[10]
In March 1939, however, The Times reversed course and called for war preparations.[11] Dawson was a lifelong friend and dining companion of Edward Wood, later Lord Halifax, who was Foreign Secretary in the period 1938–1940. He promoted the policies of the Baldwin/Chamberlain governments of the period 1936–1940. Dawson retired in September 1941 and died on 7 November 1944 in London. He was succeeded as editor by Robert Barrington-Ward.
Worksedit
"The Prospects of a United South Africa" . The Empire and the century. London: John Murray. 1905. pp. 521–538.
Referencesedit
^Oxford University Calendar 1905, Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1902, pp. 119, 175.
^Dictionary of National Biography 1941–1950, Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1959, p.204.
^Dictionary of National Biography 1941–1950, Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1959, p. 204.
^Stevenson, William. A Man Called Intrepid. Globe Pequot (2000), p. 232. ISBN978-1-58574-154-0.
^Gordon Martel, ed. The Times and Appeasement: The Journals of A L Kennedy, 1932–1939 (2000).
^Frank McDonough, "The Times, Norman Ebbut and the Nazis, 1927–37." Journal of Contemporary History 27#3 (1992): 407–424.
^Martin Gilbert, Prophet of Truth: Winston S. Churchill, 1922–1939 (London: Minerva, 1990), p. 850.
^Office of the Times (1952). The History of The Times: The 150th Anniversary and Beyond 1912–19482:960-63.
Sourcesedit
Fleming, N. C. "The Press, Empire and Historical Time: The Times and Indian self-government, c. 1911–47." Media History 16.2 (2010): 183–198.
McDonough, Frank. "The Times, Norman Ebbut and the Nazis, 1927–37." Journal of Contemporary History 27#3 (1992): 407–424.
Martel, Gordon, ed. The Times and Appeasement: The Journals of A L Kennedy, 1932–1939 (2000).
The Office of the Times. The History of The Times: The 150th Anniversary and Beyond 1912–1948 (2 vol. 1952), passim.
Riggs, Bruce Timothy. "Geoffrey Dawson, editor of "The Times" (London), and his contribution to the appeasement movement" (PhD dissertation, U of North Texas, 1993) online, bibliography pp 229–33.
Wrench, John Evelyn (1955). Geoffrey Dawson and our times. Hutchinson.
Marlowe, John. Milner, Apostle of Empire, London: Hamish Hamilton, 1976
External linksedit
Wikisource has original works by or about: Geoffrey Dawson
geoffrey, dawson, english, cricketer, born, 1940, cricketer, george, october, 1874, november, 1944, editor, times, from, 1912, 1919, again, from, 1923, until, 1941, original, last, name, robinson, changed, 1917, married, margaret, cecilia, lawley, daughter, ar. For the English cricketer born 1940 see Geoffrey Dawson cricketer George Geoffrey Dawson 25 October 1874 7 November 1944 was editor of The Times from 1912 to 1919 and again from 1923 until 1941 His original last name was Robinson but he changed it in 1917 He married Hon Margaret Cecilia Lawley daughter of Arthur Lawley 6th Baron Wenlock in 1919 Geoffrey DawsonBornGeorge Geoffrey Robinson 1874 10 25 25 October 1874Skipton in Craven Yorkshire EnglandDied7 November 1944 1944 11 07 aged 70 London EnglandEducationMagdalen College OxfordOccupation s Civil servant editor Contents 1 Early life 2 Career in journalism 3 Works 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksEarly life editDawson was born 25 October 1874 in Skipton in Craven Yorkshire the eldest child of George Robinson a banker and his wife Mary nee Perfect He attended Eton College and Magdalen College Oxford His academic career was distinguished he took a First in Classical Moderations in 1895 and a First in Literae Humaniores Greats in 1897 1 In 1898 he was elected a fellow of All Souls College Oxford a position he held for the rest of his life 2 He chose a career in civil service entering in 1898 by open examination After a year at the Post Office he was transferred to the Colonial Office and in 1901 he was selected as assistant private secretary to Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain Later the same year Dawson obtained a similar position with Lord Milner high commissioner in South Africa 3 As Milner s assistant Dawson participated in the establishment of British administration in South Africa in the aftermath of the Boer War While there he became a member of Milner s kindergarten 4 a circle of young administrators and civil servants whose membership included Leo Amery Bob Brand Philip Kerr Richard Feetham John Buchan and Lionel Curtis United by a common aspiration for Imperial Federation all later became prominent in the round table of Empire Loyalists 5 Career in journalism editMilner wanted to ensure the support of the local newspapers after his return to England He persuaded the owners of the Johannesburg Star to appoint Dawson as the paper s editor Dawson later parlayed this post into a position as the Johannesburg correspondent of The Times in February 1911 and then attracted the attention of Lord Northcliffe owner of The Times who appointed him editor of the paper in July 1912 6 Dawson was unhappy however with the way that Northcliffe used the paper as an instrument to further his own personal political agenda and broke with him stepping down as editor in February 1919 Dawson returned to the post in 1923 after Lord Northcliffe s death when the paper s ownership had passed to John Jacob Astor V Bob Brand had become the Astors brother in law and it is thought that he introduced Dawson to the Astors circle at Cliveden the so called Cliveden set presided over by Nancy Astor citation needed In his second stint as editor Dawson began to use the paper in the same manner as Lord Northcliffe had once done to promote his own agenda He also became a leader of a group of journalists that sought to influence national policy by private correspondence with leading statesmen Dawson was close to both Stanley Baldwin and Neville Chamberlain He was a prominent proponent and supporter of appeasement policies after Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany He was a member of the Anglo German Fellowship 7 Candid news despatches from Berlin by Norman Ebbutt that warned of warmongering were rewritten in London to support the appeasement policy 8 9 Dawson explained to Lord Lothian on 23 May 1937 I should like to get going with the Germans I simply cannot understand why they should apparently be so much annoyed with The Times at this moment I spend my nights in taking out anything which I think will hurt their susceptibilities and in dropping little things which are intended to soothe them 10 In March 1939 however The Times reversed course and called for war preparations 11 Dawson was a lifelong friend and dining companion of Edward Wood later Lord Halifax who was Foreign Secretary in the period 1938 1940 He promoted the policies of the Baldwin Chamberlain governments of the period 1936 1940 Dawson retired in September 1941 and died on 7 November 1944 in London He was succeeded as editor by Robert Barrington Ward Works edit The Prospects of a United South Africa The Empire and the century London John Murray 1905 pp 521 538 References edit Oxford University Calendar 1905 Oxford Clarendon Press 1902 pp 119 175 Dictionary of National Biography 1941 1950 Oxford Oxford University Press 1959 p 204 Dictionary of National Biography 1941 1950 Oxford Oxford University Press 1959 p 204 A M Gollin Proconsul in Politics A Study of Lord Milner in Opposition and in Power London Macmillan 1964 pp 41 42 ISBN 0218512929 ISBN 9780218512922 Driver C J Sampson Anthony Foreword By Patrick Duncan South African and Pan Africanist p 20 ISBN 978 085255773 0 Marlowe Milner Apostle of Empire pg 213 Stevenson William A Man Called Intrepid Globe Pequot 2000 p 232 ISBN 978 1 58574 154 0 Gordon Martel ed The Times and Appeasement The Journals of A L Kennedy 1932 1939 2000 Frank McDonough The Times Norman Ebbut and the Nazis 1927 37 Journal of Contemporary History 27 3 1992 407 424 Martin Gilbert Prophet of Truth Winston S Churchill 1922 1939 London Minerva 1990 p 850 Office of the Times 1952 The History of The Times The 150th Anniversary and Beyond 1912 1948 2 960 63 Sources editFleming N C The Press Empire and Historical Time The Times and Indian self government c 1911 47 Media History 16 2 2010 183 198 McDonough Frank The Times Norman Ebbut and the Nazis 1927 37 Journal of Contemporary History 27 3 1992 407 424 Martel Gordon ed The Times and Appeasement The Journals of A L Kennedy 1932 1939 2000 The Office of the Times The History of The Times The 150th Anniversary and Beyond 1912 1948 2 vol 1952 passim Riggs Bruce Timothy Geoffrey Dawson editor of The Times London and his contribution to the appeasement movement PhD dissertation U of North Texas 1993 online bibliography pp 229 33 Wrench John Evelyn 1955 Geoffrey Dawson and our times Hutchinson Marlowe John Milner Apostle of Empire London Hamish Hamilton 1976External links edit nbsp Wikisource has original works by or about Geoffrey Dawson Archival material relating to Geoffrey Dawson UK National Archives nbsp Catalogue of the papers of Geoffrey Dawson at the Bodleian Library Oxford Media offices Preceded byGeorge Earle Buckle Editor of The Times1912 1919 Succeeded byWickham Steed Preceded byWickham Steed Editor of The Times1923 1941 Succeeded byRobert Barrington Ward Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Geoffrey Dawson amp oldid 1217613285, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
