Vere Harmsworth, 3rd Viscount Rothermere
Encyclopedia
Vere Harold Esmond Harmsworth, 3rd Viscount Rothermere (27 April 1925 – 1 September 1998) became the 3rd Viscount Rothermere
in 1978, having been widely known as Vere Harmsworth. He controlled large media interests in the United Kingdom
and United States
. He may be considered the founder of The Mail on Sunday
.
in 1971 and was responsible for the relaunch of the Daily Mail
as a tabloid, after which its circulation increased greatly under editor Sir David English
. After the death of his father, Esmond Cecil Harmsworth, 2nd Viscount Rothermere, he also became chairman of parent Daily Mail and General Trust plc though he was unsuccessful in an attempt to combine the companies in a manner calculated to avoid taxation. An artifact of this plan was the ownership of Associated Newspapers
being vested in Associated Newspapers Holdings, ownership of which was split 50.2%-49.8% between DMGT and its wholly owned subsidiary Daily Mail & General Holdings. (Since then DMGH's name has been transferred to ANH and the old DMGH become Derry Street Properties).
In 1992 English succeeded him as chairman of Associated Newspapers (but not of Associated Newspapers Holdings or the parent companies). When English died in mid-1998 Rothermere resumed the chairmanship of Associated Newspapers and replaced his protege as president of the Commonwealth Press Union
, only to die himself some months later, still chairman of DMGT, being fatally stricken with a heart attack
, while dining with his son (and successor) Jonathan Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere
.
In politics he began as a Conservative
, drifted to the cross-benches and shortly before his death not only began to sit on the Labour
benches in the House of Lords
, but pronounced himself a firm republican
in an interview.
They had three children:
Following the death of his first wife on 12 August 1992, Rothermere married his longtime mistress, Maiko Jeong Shun Lee, in 1993.
Viscount Rothermere
Viscount Rothermere, of Hemsted in the County of Kent, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1919 for the press lord Harold Harmsworth, 1st Baron Harmsworth. He had already been created a Baronet, of Horsey in the County of Norfolk, on 14 July 1910, and Baron...
in 1978, having been widely known as Vere Harmsworth. He controlled large media interests in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He may be considered the founder of The Mail on Sunday
The Mail on Sunday
The Mail on Sunday is a British conservative newspaper, currently published in a tabloid format. First published in 1982 by Lord Rothermere, it became Britain's biggest-selling Sunday newspaper following the closing of The News of the World in July 2011...
.
Business life
Rothermere became the Chairman of Associated NewspapersAssociated Newspapers
Associated Newspapers is a large national newspaper publisher in the UK, which is a subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust. The group was established in 1905 and is currently based at Northcliffe House in Kensington...
in 1971 and was responsible for the relaunch of the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
as a tabloid, after which its circulation increased greatly under editor Sir David English
David English
David English may refer to:*Melvin Franklin , American bass singer*Sir David English , , British newspaper editor...
. After the death of his father, Esmond Cecil Harmsworth, 2nd Viscount Rothermere, he also became chairman of parent Daily Mail and General Trust plc though he was unsuccessful in an attempt to combine the companies in a manner calculated to avoid taxation. An artifact of this plan was the ownership of Associated Newspapers
Associated Newspapers
Associated Newspapers is a large national newspaper publisher in the UK, which is a subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust. The group was established in 1905 and is currently based at Northcliffe House in Kensington...
being vested in Associated Newspapers Holdings, ownership of which was split 50.2%-49.8% between DMGT and its wholly owned subsidiary Daily Mail & General Holdings. (Since then DMGH's name has been transferred to ANH and the old DMGH become Derry Street Properties).
In 1992 English succeeded him as chairman of Associated Newspapers (but not of Associated Newspapers Holdings or the parent companies). When English died in mid-1998 Rothermere resumed the chairmanship of Associated Newspapers and replaced his protege as president of the Commonwealth Press Union
Commonwealth Press Union
-Commonwealth Press Union :The Commonwealth Press Union was an association composed of 750 members in 49 countries, including newspaper groups , individual newspapers, and news agencies throughout the Commonwealth of Nations...
, only to die himself some months later, still chairman of DMGT, being fatally stricken with a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, while dining with his son (and successor) Jonathan Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere
Jonathan Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere
Harold Jonathan Esmond Vere Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere succeeded his father as the 4th Viscount Rothermere in 1998...
.
In politics he began as a Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, drifted to the cross-benches and shortly before his death not only began to sit on the Labour
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...
benches in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, but pronounced himself a firm republican
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
in an interview.
Family life
On 21 March 1957 Vere Harmsworth married actress Pamela BrooksPamela Harmsworth, Viscountess Rothermere
Patricia Evelyn Beverley Matthews Harmsworth, Viscountess Rothermere was an English socialite and actress. As Beverly Brooks, she appeared in several films, such as Reach for the Sky ....
They had three children:
- Geraldine Theodora Gabriel Harmsworth (born 25 July 1957)
- Camilla Patricia Caroline Harmsworth (born 28 July 1964)
- Harold Jonathan Esmond Vere Harmsworth, 4th Viscount RothermereJonathan Harmsworth, 4th Viscount RothermereHarold Jonathan Esmond Vere Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere succeeded his father as the 4th Viscount Rothermere in 1998...
(born 3 December 1967)
Following the death of his first wife on 12 August 1992, Rothermere married his longtime mistress, Maiko Jeong Shun Lee, in 1993.