William Berry, 1st Viscount Camrose
Encyclopedia
William Ewart Berry, 1st Viscount Camrose (23 June 1879 – 15 June 1954) was a British
newspaper
publisher.
The second of three brothers born in Merthyr Tydfil
in Wales
, Berry started his working life as a journalist
and established his own paper, Advertising World, in 1901. Berry made his fortune with the publication of the World War I
magazine The War Illustrated
, which at its peak had a circulation of 750,000. In partnership with his younger brother, Gomer (the elder brother was Seymour Berry, 1st Baron Buckland
), he purchased The Sunday Times
in 1915 and served as its editor-in-chief until 1937. In 1919 the pair also purchased the Financial Times
.
In 1924 the Berry brothers and Sir Edward Iliffe
set up Allied Newspapers and purchased the Daily Dispatch, the Manchester Evening Chronicle, the Sunday Chronicle
, the Sunday News, and the Sunday Graphic
, as well as a string of other newspapers across the country. In Cardiff
they merged four newspapers into the Western Mail. In 1927 they purchased The Daily Telegraph
from the 2nd Baron Burnham
, with William Berry also becoming its editor-in-chief. In 1937 they also purchased its rival, The Morning Post.
He bought out his partners in 1937 and amalgamated The Morning Post with The Daily Telegraph, with himself as chairman and editor-in-chief. His sons Seymour, the 2nd Viscount
, and subsequently Michael
, continued to run the newspaper until 1986.
Berry was created a Baronet
in the 1921 Birthday Honours. He was created Baron Camrose, of Long Cross in the County of Surrey
, on 19 June 1929, and Viscount Camrose
, of Hackwood Park in the County of Southampton
, on 20 January 1941. He was succeeded by his son, John Seymour Berry
.
William Berry provided financial assistance to Sir Winston Churchill
after the Second World War. He and another ten wealthy well-wishers each donated £5,000 to the Churchills, allowing them to keep their home, Chartwell
, on the condition that it would be presented to the nation upon their deaths.
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...
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
publisher.
The second of three brothers born in Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, Berry started his working life as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and established his own paper, Advertising World, in 1901. Berry made his fortune with the publication of the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
magazine The War Illustrated
The War Illustrated
The War Illustrated was a British war magazine published in London by William Berry . It was first released on 22 August 1914, eighteen days after the United Kingdom declared war on Germany, and regular issues continued throughout World War I...
, which at its peak had a circulation of 750,000. In partnership with his younger brother, Gomer (the elder brother was Seymour Berry, 1st Baron Buckland
Seymour Berry, 1st Baron Buckland
Henry Seymour Berry, 1st Baron Buckland was a Welsh financier and industrialist.-Background:The eldest of three sons, all born in Merthyr Tydfil to solicitor John Mathias Berry and his wife Mary Ann Rowe...
), he purchased 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...
in 1915 and served as its editor-in-chief until 1937. In 1919 the pair also purchased 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....
.
In 1924 the Berry brothers and Sir Edward Iliffe
Edward Iliffe, 1st Baron Iliffe
Edward Mauger Iliffe, 1st Baron Iliffe , was a British newspaper magnate, public servant and Conservative Member of Parliament.Iliffe was the son of William Isaac Iliffe, a publisher and Justice of the Peace, of Allesley near Coventry...
set up Allied Newspapers and purchased the Daily Dispatch, the Manchester Evening Chronicle, the Sunday Chronicle
Sunday Chronicle
The Sunday Chronicle was a newspaper in the United Kingdom.The newspaper was founded in Manchester by Edward Hulton in August 1885. He was known for his sporting coverage, already publishing the Sporting Chronicle, the Daily Dispatch and the Athletic News. The paper initially cost one penny and,...
, the Sunday News, and the Sunday Graphic
Sunday Graphic
The Sunday Graphic was an English tabloid newspaper published in Fleet Street.The newspaper was founded in 1915 as the Sunday Herald and was later renamed the Illustrated Sunday Herald. In 1927 it changed its name to the Sunday Graphic, becoming the sister paper of the Daily Graphic. In 1931 it...
, as well as a string of other newspapers across the country. In Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
they merged four newspapers into the Western Mail. In 1927 they purchased The Daily 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...
from the 2nd Baron Burnham
Baron Burnham
Baron Burnham, of Hall Barn in the Parish of Beaconsfield in the County of Buckingham, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1903 for the influential newspaper magnate Sir Edward Levy-Lawson, 1st Baronet, owner of the Daily Telegraph...
, with William Berry also becoming its editor-in-chief. In 1937 they also purchased its rival, The Morning Post.
He bought out his partners in 1937 and amalgamated The Morning Post with The Daily Telegraph, with himself as chairman and editor-in-chief. His sons Seymour, the 2nd Viscount
Seymour Berry, 2nd Viscount Camrose
John Seymour Berry, 2nd Viscount Camrose was a British nobleman, politician, and newspaper proprietor.John Berry was born in Surrey on 12 July 1909, the eldest son of William Berry, later first Viscount Camrose and first Baronet Berry of Hackwood Park, and Mary Agnes Berry, née Corns...
, and subsequently Michael
Michael Berry, Baron Hartwell
William Michael Berry, 3rd Viscount Camrose and Baron Hartwell MBE was a newspaper proprietor and journalist.Michael Berry was the second son of the 1st Viscount Camrose. He succeeded his brother Seymour Berry, 2nd Viscount Camrose as Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of the Daily and Sunday Telegraph...
, continued to run the newspaper until 1986.
Berry was created a Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in the 1921 Birthday Honours. He was created Baron Camrose, of Long Cross in the County of Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, on 19 June 1929, and Viscount Camrose
Viscount Camrose
Viscount Camrose, of Hackwood Park in the County of Southampton, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 20 January 1941 for the prominent newspaper magnate William Berry, 1st Baron Camrose...
, of Hackwood Park in the County of Southampton
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, on 20 January 1941. He was succeeded by his son, John Seymour Berry
Seymour Berry, 2nd Viscount Camrose
John Seymour Berry, 2nd Viscount Camrose was a British nobleman, politician, and newspaper proprietor.John Berry was born in Surrey on 12 July 1909, the eldest son of William Berry, later first Viscount Camrose and first Baronet Berry of Hackwood Park, and Mary Agnes Berry, née Corns...
.
William Berry provided financial assistance to Sir Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
after the Second World War. He and another ten wealthy well-wishers each donated £5,000 to the Churchills, allowing them to keep their home, Chartwell
Chartwell
Chartwell was the principal adult home of Sir Winston Churchill. Churchill and his wife Clementine bought the property, located two miles south of Westerham, Kent, England, in 1922...
, on the condition that it would be presented to the nation upon their deaths.