Ramsay Muir
Encyclopedia
Ramsay Bryce Muir (30 September 1872 – 4 May 1941) was a British historian
, Liberal Party
politician and thinker who made a significant contribution to the development of liberal
political philosophy in the 1920s and 1930s through his work on domestic industrial policy and his promotion of the international policy of interdependency.
, the oldest of five children of a Reformed Presbyterian minister
. He was educated privately in Birkenhead
, at University College, Liverpool
, where he gained a first in history and then at Balliol College, Oxford
, where he gained firsts in Greats and modern history.
and the following year he was appointed lecturer in history at Liverpool. From 1906 until 1913, he was professor of history at Liverpool when he resigned to take up a visiting lectureship at the University of Punjab
in India (1913–14). On return to England he became professor of modern history at the University of Manchester. Between 1917 and 1919 he was a member of a commission investigating Calcutta University and Indian post-secondary education. He ended his academic career in 1921 and embarked full time on political work.
, economic and social reform. He published the book Liberalism and Industry in 1920 and in 1921 he was one of the founders of the Liberal Summer Schools, an annual, week long, residential school to promote interest in the party and to develop innovative policies. The schools were held in alternate years at Cambridge
and Oxford until 1939. The schools produced the famous Liberal ‘coloured books’ on industrial and social questions and was a source of ideas for progressives in politics. Muir was also a prominent Liberal writer contributing frequently to The Nation
and the Weekly Westminster. During the 1930s, he edited the Westminster Newsletter, a weekly commentary on Liberal Party affairs.
Muir stood for Parliament
eight times in all in the Liberal interest between 1922 and 1935. He was elected at the 1923 general election
as Member of Parliament
(MP) for Rochdale
in Lancashire
, having been unsuccessful in that constituency at the 1922 general election
However he was defeated at the 1924 election
. He stood for Parliament
again at five further elections, without success:
Muir was also a leading figure in the National Liberal Federation (NLF), being its chairman from 1931-33 and president from 1933-3. He was a driving spirit behind the party reorganisation of 1936, and briefly (in 1936) acted as vice-president of the new Liberal Party Organization (LPO). From 1936 until his death he chaired the education and propaganda committee of the LPO. He was a key contributor to the Liberal policy review of 1934 and principal author of its report ‘The Liberal Way’. Although Muir was associated closely with the progressive ideas coming out of the Liberal Summer Schools, the radical solutions for unemployment, industrial and social reform which were inspired by Maynard Keynes, Lloyd George
and William Beveridge
, he was also something of a classical Liberal too. He was particularly constant over Free Trade
which he always supported and took a paternal view of Imperial and Colonial questions, in which Britain’s duties to its colonies took centre stage with an emphasis on trusteeship.
During the Second World War, Muir was a volunteer writer and lecturer for the Ministry of Information. He never married or had children and died at his home in Pinner
, Middlesex
, on 4 May 1941.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician and thinker who made a significant contribution to the development of liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
political philosophy in the 1920s and 1930s through his work on domestic industrial policy and his promotion of the international policy of interdependency.
Early life and education
Muir was born at Otterburn, NorthumberlandOtterburn, Northumberland
Otterburn is a small village in Northumberland, England, northwest of Newcastle Upon Tyne on the banks of the River Rede, near the confluence of the Otter Burn, from which the village derives its name. It lies within the Cheviot Hills about from the Scottish border...
, the oldest of five children of a Reformed Presbyterian minister
Reformed Presbyterian Church (denominational group)
The Reformed Presbyterian Church is a group of denominations following a form of Protestant Christianity related to Presbyterianism. Reformed Presbyterian congregations are found in several countries, including Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, France, United States of America,...
. He was educated privately in Birkenhead
Birkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
, at University College, Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
, where he gained a first in history and then at Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, where he gained firsts in Greats and modern history.
Academic career
In 1898 Muir became an assistant lecturer in history at the University of ManchesterVictoria University of Manchester
The Victoria University of Manchester was a university in Manchester, England. On 1 October 2004 it merged with the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology to form a new entity, "The University of Manchester".-1851 - 1951:The University was founded in 1851 as Owens College,...
and the following year he was appointed lecturer in history at Liverpool. From 1906 until 1913, he was professor of history at Liverpool when he resigned to take up a visiting lectureship at the University of Punjab
University of the Punjab
University of the Punjab , colloquially known as Punjab University, is located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The University of the Punjab is the oldest and biggest University of Pakistan. The University of the Punjab was formally established with the convening of the first meeting of its...
in India (1913–14). On return to England he became professor of modern history at the University of Manchester. Between 1917 and 1919 he was a member of a commission investigating Calcutta University and Indian post-secondary education. He ended his academic career in 1921 and embarked full time on political work.
Liberalism and politics
While at Manchester, Muir had become active in the Manchester Liberal Federation and this sparked his interest in industrialIndustrial democracy
Industrial democracy is an arrangement which involves workers making decisions, sharing responsibility and authority in the workplace. While in participative management organizational designs workers are listened to and take part in the decision-making process, in organizations employing industrial...
, economic and social reform. He published the book Liberalism and Industry in 1920 and in 1921 he was one of the founders of the Liberal Summer Schools, an annual, week long, residential school to promote interest in the party and to develop innovative policies. The schools were held in alternate years at Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and Oxford until 1939. The schools produced the famous Liberal ‘coloured books’ on industrial and social questions and was a source of ideas for progressives in politics. Muir was also a prominent Liberal writer contributing frequently to The Nation
The Nation and Atheneum
The Nation and Atheneum or simply The Nation was a United Kingdom political weekly newspaper with a Liberal / Labour viewpoint. It was formed in 1921 from the merger of the Athenaeum, a literary magazine published in London since 1828 and the smaller and newer Nation.The enterprise was purchased...
and the Weekly Westminster. During the 1930s, he edited the Westminster Newsletter, a weekly commentary on Liberal Party affairs.
Muir stood for Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
eight times in all in the Liberal interest between 1922 and 1935. He was elected at the 1923 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Rochdale
Rochdale (UK Parliament constituency)
Rochdale is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, having been unsuccessful in that constituency at the 1922 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
However he was defeated at the 1924 election
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
. He stood for Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
again at five further elections, without success:
- 1926: by-electionBy-electionA by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
for the Combined English UniversitiesCombined English Universities (UK Parliament constituency)Combined English Universities was a university constituency represented in the United Kingdom Parliament . It was formed by enfranchising and combining all the English Universities, except for Cambridge, Oxford and London, which were already separately represented.-Boundaries:This University... - 1929 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1929-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
: RochdaleRochdale (UK Parliament constituency)Rochdale is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:... - 1931: by-electionBy-electionA by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in Scarborough & Whitby - 1931 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1931The United Kingdom general election on Tuesday 27 October 1931 was the last in the United Kingdom not held on a Thursday. It was also the last election, and the only one under universal suffrage, where one party received an absolute majority of the votes cast.The 1931 general election was the...
: LouthLouth, Lincolnshire (UK Parliament constituency)Louth was a county constituency in Lincolnshire which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 until it was abolished for the 1983 general election.... - 1935 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1935The United Kingdom general election held on 14 November 1935 resulted in a large, though reduced, majority for the National Government now led by Conservative Stanley Baldwin. The greatest number of MPs, as before, were Conservative, while the National Liberal vote held steady...
: Scarborough and Whitby
Muir was also a leading figure in the National Liberal Federation (NLF), being its chairman from 1931-33 and president from 1933-3. He was a driving spirit behind the party reorganisation of 1936, and briefly (in 1936) acted as vice-president of the new Liberal Party Organization (LPO). From 1936 until his death he chaired the education and propaganda committee of the LPO. He was a key contributor to the Liberal policy review of 1934 and principal author of its report ‘The Liberal Way’. Although Muir was associated closely with the progressive ideas coming out of the Liberal Summer Schools, the radical solutions for unemployment, industrial and social reform which were inspired by Maynard Keynes, Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
and William Beveridge
William Beveridge
William Henry Beveridge, 1st Baron Beveridge KCB was a British economist and social reformer. He is best known for his 1942 report Social Insurance and Allied Services which served as the basis for the post-World War II welfare state put in place by the Labour government elected in 1945.Lord...
, he was also something of a classical Liberal too. He was particularly constant over Free Trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
which he always supported and took a paternal view of Imperial and Colonial questions, in which Britain’s duties to its colonies took centre stage with an emphasis on trusteeship.
During the Second World War, Muir was a volunteer writer and lecturer for the Ministry of Information. He never married or had children and died at his home in Pinner
Pinner
- Climate :Pinner's geographical position on the far western side of North West London makes it the furthest London suburb from any UK coastline. Hence the lower prevalence of moderating maritime influences make Pinner noticeably warmer in the spring and the summer compared to the rest of the capital...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, on 4 May 1941.
Works by Ramsay Muir
- History of Municipal Government in Liverpool (joint with others), 1906
- History of Liverpool, 1907
- Peers and Bureaucrats, 1910
- Atlas of Modern History, 1911
- Britain's Case Agsinst Germany, 1915
- Making of British India, 1915
- Nationalism and Internationalism, 1916
- The Expansion of Europe, 1917
- The Character of the British Empire, 1917
- National Self-Government, 1918
- Liberalism and Industry: Towards a Better Social Order, 1920
- History of the British Commonwealth, Volume I, 1920
- History of the British Commonwealth, Volume II, 1922
- Politics and Progress: A Survey of the Problems of Today, 1923
- America the Golden, 1927
- British History, 1928
- Robinson the Great, 1929
- How Britain is Governed, 1930
- Protection versus Free Imports, 1930
- The Political Consequences of the Great War, 1931
- The Interdependent World and its Problems, 1932
- The Faith of a Liberal, 1933
- A Brief History of Our Own Times, 1934
- The Record of the National Government, 1936
- Civilisation and Liberty, 1940
- Ramsay Muir: An Autobiography and Some Essays (edited by Stuart Hodgson), 1944
External links
- http://www.liberalhistory.org.uk/item_single.php?item_id=34&item=biography Biography of Muir on the website of the Liberal Democrat History Group
- http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/theartofwar/inf3.htm Ministry of Information pages at the National Archives