Henry William Massingham
Encyclopedia
Henry William Massingham (1860-1924) was an English journalist, editor of The Nation from 1907 to 1923. In his time it was considered the leading British Radical weekly.
he had given George Bernard Shaw
his break in journalism, appointing him deputy drama critic to Belfort Bax.
He edited the Daily Chronicle 1897-9, but in November 1899 was forced out because his editorial line on the Second Boer War
was hostile to the government.
His departure from The Nation was a matter of party politics: he had broken from the Liberals under David Lloyd George
, in favour of the Labour Party
. A change of ownership was putting control in the hands of John Maynard Keynes
, a Liberal. Massingham during the short remainder of his life was a columnist, in the Christian Science Monitor and The Spectator
.
Massingham was also the father of Dr. Richard Massingham
who became well known for his direction of public information films at about the time of World War II. The writer Harold J. Massingham was another son, and the playwright and actress Dorothy Massingham was his daughter.
Life
He became editor of London paper The Star in 1890, though being replaced by Ernest Parke in 1891. In 1888 as deputy editor to T. P. O'ConnorT. P. O'Connor
Thomas Power O'Connor , known as T. P. O'Connor and occasionally as Tay Pay, was a journalist, an Irish nationalist political figure, and a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for nearly fifty years.-Biography:O'Connor was born in...
he had given George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60...
his break in journalism, appointing him deputy drama critic to Belfort Bax.
He edited the Daily Chronicle 1897-9, but in November 1899 was forced out because his editorial line on the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
was hostile to the government.
His departure from The Nation was a matter of party politics: he had broken from the Liberals under David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
, in favour of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
. A change of ownership was putting control in the hands of John Maynard Keynes
John Maynard Keynes
John Maynard Keynes, Baron Keynes of Tilton, CB FBA , was a British economist whose ideas have profoundly affected the theory and practice of modern macroeconomics, as well as the economic policies of governments...
, a Liberal. Massingham during the short remainder of his life was a columnist, in the Christian Science Monitor and 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...
.
Family
Massingham married two sisters, Emma Jane Snowdon by whom he had his family. After her death he married her sister Ellen Snowdon. They were two of the daughters of Henry Snowdon of St. Leonards Priory in Norwich.Massingham was also the father of Dr. Richard Massingham
Richard Massingham
Richard Massingham was a British actor who is principally noted for starring in public information films made in the 1940s and early 1950s.-Life:...
who became well known for his direction of public information films at about the time of World War II. The writer Harold J. Massingham was another son, and the playwright and actress Dorothy Massingham was his daughter.
Further reading
- Why We Came to Help Belgium, online text
- H. W. M.: A selection from the writings of H. W. Massingham (1925)
- Alfred F. Havighurst (1974), Radical Journalist: H.W. Massingham, 1860-1924