Richard Farquhar Scott (16 May 1914 – 11 November 2011) was an English journalist, great-grandson of the

founder Founder or Founders may refer to: Places *Founders Park, a stadium in South Carolina, formerly known as Carolina Stadium * Founders Park, a waterside park in Islamorada, Florida Arts, entertainment, and media * Founders (''Star Trek''), the ali ...

of ''The Manchester Guardian'' newspaper (later simplified by him to ''The Guardian''), and Chairman of the

Scott Trust Scott Trust Limited is the British company that owns Guardian Media Group and thus ''The Guardian'' and ''The Observer'' as well as various other media businesses in the UK. In 2008, it replaced the Scott Trust, which had owned ''The Guardian'' s ...

, its owner.

Early life

By the time of Richard's birth, his grandfather Charles Prestwich Scott had already been editor of ''The Manchester Guardian'' for 43 years. In 1929, C. P. Scott handed over the editorship to his son, Richard's father, Edward. Just three years later, and only months after inheriting half of the newspaper on Charles's death, tragedy struck when Edward was drowned while boating with Richard on

Windermere Windermere (sometimes tautologically called Windermere Lake to distinguish it from the nearby town of Windermere) is the largest natural lake in England. More than 11 miles (18 km) in length, and almost 1 mile (1.5 km) at its wides ...

. Richard had been educated at Gresham's School, and, with the financial support of Edward's brother

John Russell Scott John Russell Scott (12 July 1879 – 5 April 1949) was a British publisher. He was the owner of the '' Manchester Guardian'' and the ''Manchester Evening News''. Early life Scott was born in Manchester, the third child of C. P. Scott and his wi ...

, he was able to join Christ's College, Cambridge, where he matriculated later that same year, 1932. Edward's shares in the newspaper had gone to John who, in 1936 arranged for them to be transferred into a trust, to avoid inheritance taxes. Hence, Richard was never more than momentarily an owner of the paper.

Journalism

Richard Scott commenced his work as a journalist at the

League of Nations Union The League of Nations Union (LNU) was an organization formed in October 1918 in Great Britain to promote international justice, collective security and a permanent peace between nations based upon the ideals of the League of Nations. The League of N ...

, where he wrote brochures, pamphlets and memoranda for members, then for a year worked at ''

The Spectator ''The Spectator'' is a weekly British magazine on politics, culture, and current affairs. It was first published in July 1828, making it the oldest surviving weekly magazine in the world. It is owned by Frederick Barclay, who also owns ''The ...

'', followed by the

British Council The British Council is a British organisation specialising in international cultural and educational opportunities. It works in over 100 countries: promoting a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom and the English language (and the Welsh lan ...

. He joined the Foreign Office during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

. In 1947, he joined the Guardian as diplomatic correspondent.

Saving The Guardian

While writing critically of the Eden government in the context of the Suez crisis in 1956, Richard Scott was appointed Chairman of the Scott Trust. He managed to hold this position without attending a single meeting of its board for ten years, although, concentrating on his reporting work for The Guardian, including moving to Georgetown, Washington DC, in 1963 to work under Alistair Cooke. Richard famously for the first time used his position as Chairman of the trust to oppose his cousin Laurence Scott's plan to merge The Guardian, of which he, Laurence, was then Chairman, with the Times in 1966, for which resistance Richard was considered the saviour of its independence.

Later years and death

Scott remained in Washington until 1971, when he moved to Paris for a three-year assignment. He retired from journalism in 1974, taking up residence at his vineyard in Limoux. After divorce from his second wife, Anna Walmsley, he moved into a small cottage in the nearby town of Lagrasse, Corbières, where he passed his remaining years with a third wife, Christiane.

Early life

Journalism

Saving The Guardian

Later years and death

References

Further reading