Dominic Lawson
Encyclopedia
Dominic Ralph Campden Lawson (born 17 December 1956) is a British
journalist.
and then Christ Church
, Oxford, he is the elder son of a former Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer
Lord Lawson
and socialite Vanessa Salmon, heir to the Lyons Corner House empire, who died of liver cancer
in 1985. Lawson had three sisters - TV chef and writer Nigella Lawson
; Horatia; and Thomasina, who died of breast cancer
in 1993 in her early 30s. Through the Salmon family
he is a cousin to the journalist and environmentalist George Monbiot
and the solicitor Fiona Shackleton
.
Lawson is married to The Honourable Rosamond Mary Monckton
, daughter of the 2nd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley
. The Lawsons have two daughters (another daughter, Natalia, was stillborn), Domenica and Savannah; Domenica has Down's syndrome. Monckton is a patron of the disabled children's charity KIDS and is involved in Down's charity work. Rosa Monckton has talked to the press about how Down's has affected her and her daughters' lives.
as a researcher, and then wrote for the Financial Times
. From 1990 until 1995 he was editor of The Spectator
magazine, a post his father had occupied from 1966 to 1970. In his capacity as editor of The Spectator he conducted, in June 1990, an interview with the cabinet minister Nicholas Ridley in which Ridley expressed opinions immensely hostile to Germany and the European Community, likening the initiatives of Jacques Delors
and others to those of Hitler
. Lawson added to the damage caused, by claiming that the opinions expressed by Ridley were shared by the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher
. Ridley was forced to resign from the cabinet shortly after this incident. Although senior Tories promptly called for Lawson's head, his proprietor, Conrad Black
, stood by him. Under Lawson's five-year editorship, the magazine's circulation grew from 30,000 to 50,000. It also won the "What The Papers Say#Awards" award for best newspaper - the first and only time it was awarded to a magazine.
Lawson has several times been accused of working with MI6 (by for instance Richard Tomlinson
), but has denied being an agent.
From 1995 until 2005, Lawson was editor of The Sunday Telegraph
. In 2000 the newspaper was named Newspaper of the Year at the British Press Awards. In 2006, he started to write columns for The Independent
newspaper and in 2008, he became the main columnist for The Sunday Times
.
He is a strong chessplayer and is the author of The Inner Game, on the inside story of the 1993 world chess championship.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
journalist.
Background
Educated at Westminster SchoolWestminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
and then Christ Church
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, Oxford, he is the elder son of a former Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
Lord Lawson
Nigel Lawson
Nigel Lawson, Baron Lawson of Blaby, PC , is a British Conservative politician and journalist. He was a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Blaby from 1974–92, and served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the government of Margaret Thatcher from June 1983 to October 1989...
and socialite Vanessa Salmon, heir to the Lyons Corner House empire, who died of liver cancer
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of liver cancer. Most cases of HCC are secondary to either a viral hepatitide infection or cirrhosis .Compared to other cancers, HCC is quite a rare tumor in the United States...
in 1985. Lawson had three sisters - TV chef and writer Nigella Lawson
Nigella Lawson
Nigella Lucy Lawson is an English food writer, journalist and broadcaster. Lawson is the daughter of Nigel Lawson, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Vanessa Salmon, whose family owned the J. Lyons and Co. empire...
; Horatia; and Thomasina, who died of breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
in 1993 in her early 30s. Through the Salmon family
Salmon & Gluckstein
The Gluckstein and Salmon families grew to prominence in the second half of the nineteenth century through their involvement in the tobacco industry. Beginning as small-time cigar manufacturers, by the turn of the century Salmon and Gluckstein Ltd was the world's largest retail tobacconist, owning...
he is a cousin to the journalist and environmentalist George Monbiot
George Monbiot
George Joshua Richard Monbiot is an English writer, known for his environmental and political activism. He lives in Machynlleth, Wales, writes a weekly column for The Guardian, and is the author of a number of books, including Captive State: The Corporate Takeover of Britain and Bring on the...
and the solicitor Fiona Shackleton
Fiona Shackleton
Fiona Shackleton, Baroness Shackleton of Belgravia LVO is an English solicitor, who has represented members of the British Royal Family and celebrities, including Sir Paul McCartney and The Duke of York...
.
Lawson is married to The Honourable Rosamond Mary Monckton
Rosa Monckton
Rosamond Mary Monckton, married name Rosamond Mary Lawson, is a British business woman and charity campaigner, usually known as Rosa Monckton....
, daughter of the 2nd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley
Gilbert Monckton, 2nd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley
Gilbert Walter Riversdale Monckton, 2nd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley CB, OBE, MC served in the British Army from 1939 to 1967, retiring with the rank of Major-General...
. The Lawsons have two daughters (another daughter, Natalia, was stillborn), Domenica and Savannah; Domenica has Down's syndrome. Monckton is a patron of the disabled children's charity KIDS and is involved in Down's charity work. Rosa Monckton has talked to the press about how Down's has affected her and her daughters' lives.
Career
Lawson joined the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
as a researcher, and then wrote for the Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
. From 1990 until 1995 he was editor of The Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
magazine, a post his father had occupied from 1966 to 1970. In his capacity as editor of The Spectator he conducted, in June 1990, an interview with the cabinet minister Nicholas Ridley in which Ridley expressed opinions immensely hostile to Germany and the European Community, likening the initiatives of Jacques Delors
Jacques Delors
Jacques Lucien Jean Delors is a French economist and politician, the eighth President of the European Commission and the first person to serve three terms in that office .-French Politics:...
and others to those of Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. Lawson added to the damage caused, by claiming that the opinions expressed by Ridley were shared by the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
. Ridley was forced to resign from the cabinet shortly after this incident. Although senior Tories promptly called for Lawson's head, his proprietor, Conrad Black
Conrad Black
Conrad Moffat Black, Baron Black of Crossharbour, OC, KCSG, PC is a Canadian-born member of the British House of Lords, and a historian, columnist and publisher, who was for a time the third largest newspaper magnate in the world. Lord Black controlled Hollinger International, Inc...
, stood by him. Under Lawson's five-year editorship, the magazine's circulation grew from 30,000 to 50,000. It also won the "What The Papers Say#Awards" award for best newspaper - the first and only time it was awarded to a magazine.
Lawson has several times been accused of working with MI6 (by for instance Richard Tomlinson
Richard Tomlinson
Richard Tomlinson is a New Zealand-born British former MI6 officer who was imprisoned during 1997 for violating the Official Secrets Act 1989 by giving the synopsis of a proposed book detailing his career in the Secret Intelligence Service to an Australian publisher...
), but has denied being an agent.
From 1995 until 2005, Lawson was editor of The Sunday Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
. In 2000 the newspaper was named Newspaper of the Year at the British Press Awards. In 2006, he started to write columns for The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
newspaper and in 2008, he became the main columnist for The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
.
He is a strong chessplayer and is the author of The Inner Game, on the inside story of the 1993 world chess championship.
Publications
- Lawson, Dominic, The Inner Game, Hardinge Simpole Limited, 2008, ISBN 1-843-82137-0
- Diamond, JohnJohn Diamond (journalist)John Diamond was a British broadcaster and journalist.- Education and training :Diamond was the son of a biochemist and a fashion designer. He grew up in Upper Clapton and Woodford Green, he then attended the City of London School and trained as an English teacher at Trent Park College of...
, Dawkins, Richard (Foreword), Dominic Lawson (Editor), Snake Oil and Other Preoccupations , Vintage, 2001, ISBN 0-09-942833-4 - Lawson, Dominic, End Game: Kasparov vs. Short, Harmony, 1994, ISBN 0-517-59810-8
External links
- http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/the-dominic-effect-1569102.html The Independent article on Lawson's editorship of The Spectator