Sir James Richard Thursfield (16 November 1840 – 22 November 1923) was a British naval historian and journalist. As well as being an authority on naval matters, he was also the first editor of the ''

Times Literary Supplement ''The Times Literary Supplement'' (''TLS'') is a weekly literary review published in London by News UK, a subsidiary of News Corp. History The ''TLS'' first appeared in 1902 as a supplement to '' The Times'' but became a separate publication ...

''. Thursfield was born in

Kidderminster Kidderminster is a large market and historic minster town and civil parish in Worcestershire, England, south-west of Birmingham and north of Worcester. Located north of the River Stour and east of the River Severn, in the 2011 census, it ha ...

and educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood and

Corpus Christi College, Oxford Corpus Christi College (formally, Corpus Christi College in the University of Oxford; informally abbreviated as Corpus or CCC) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1517, it is the 12t ...

, where he obtained a first-class degree in Literae Humaniores in 1863. He was appointed to a

fellowship A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

Jesus College, Oxford Jesus College (in full: Jesus College in the University of Oxford of Queen Elizabeth's Foundation) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship S ...

in 1864, holding this until 1881, when he was obliged to resign because of his marriage in 1880. He was then appointed by

Thomas Chenery Thomas William Chenery (1826 – 11 February 1884) was an English scholar and editor of the newspaper ''The Times''. His diplomatic background and choice of capable reporters helped to revive the paper's reputation for international news. Biogr ...

, editor of ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper '' The Sunday Times'' (f ...

'', as a leader writer. He soon established himself as an authority on naval matters, publishing works such as ''The Navy and the Nation'' (1897), ''Nelson and other Naval Studies'' (1909), and ''Naval Warfare'' (1913). He lectured on naval strategy to the Staff College, Camberley and the Royal United Service Institution. Thursfield was close to successive First Lords of the Admiralty, of various political views, and to Jackie Fisher in Fisher's campaign for navy reforms. Fisher regarded Thursfield as "a great student of naval affairs", saying that his articles were "close and precisely reasoned, unadulterated by vituperation". Prince Louis of Battenberg, who served for a time as director of naval intelligence, praised Thursfield for never being afraid to state a contrary view. Thursfield worked in other areas apart from naval matters, taking charge of ''The Timess "Books of the week" in 1891, which became the ''

'' in 1902, of which he was the first editor. He wrote a biography of Robert Peel in 1891. He was made an honorary fellow of Jesus College in 1908. He was knighted in the 1920 New Year Honours. He died at his home in

Golders Green Golders Green is an area in the London Borough of Barnet in England. A smaller suburban linear settlement, near a farm and public grazing area green of medieval origins, dates to the early 19th century. Its bulk forms a late 19th century and ea ...

on 22 November 1923. His son, Henry George Thursfield, became a

Rear-Admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...

and later followed his father as naval correspondent for ''The Times'' between 1936 and 1952.

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* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Thursfield, James Richard 1840 births 1923 deaths People from Golders Green People from Kidderminster People educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood Alumni of Corpus Christi College, Oxford Fellows of Jesus College, Oxford British historians British male journalists The Times people Knights Bachelor Academics of the Staff College, Camberley