Arthur Ernest Watson (29 February 1880 – 18 September 1969) was a British newspaper editor, known for editing ''

The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a national British daily broadsheet newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed across the United Kingdom and internationally. It was fo ...

'' from 1924 to 1950.

Biography

Watson was born in

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne ( RP: , ), or simply Newcastle, is a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. The city is located on the River Tyne's northern bank and forms the largest part of the Tyneside built-up area. Newcastle is ...

on 29 February 1880, the second son of Aaron Watson, author and journalist, and his wife, Phebe. He attended

Alleyn's School Alleyn's School is a 4–18 Mixed-sex education, co-educational, Independent school (United Kingdom), independent, Church of England, day school and sixth form in Dulwich, London, England. It is a registered charity and was originally part of Ed ...

Dulwich Dulwich (; ) is an area in south London, England. The settlement is mostly in the London Borough of Southwark, with parts in the London Borough of Lambeth, and consists of Dulwich Village, East Dulwich, West Dulwich, and the Southwark half of ...

Rutherford College of Technology Northumbria University (legally the University of Northumbria at Newcastle) is a United Kingdom, UK Public research university, public university located in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England, North East of England. It has been a university s ...

in Newcastle, and Armstrong College of the

University of Durham Durham University (legally the University of Durham) is a collegiate university, collegiate public university, public research university in Durham, England, Durham, England, founded by an Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by royal charte ...

, before entering journalism. After a spell with the '' Newcastle Daily Leader'', he joined ''

'' in 1902. He was with the newspaper for the remainder of his career, although he served during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

as an acting Major in the

Royal Field Artillery The Royal Field Artillery (RFA) of the British Army provided close artillery support for the infantry. It came into being when created as a distinct arm of the Royal Regiment of Artillery on 1 July 1899, serving alongside the other two arms of t ...

. He became the ''Telegraphs Assistant Editor in 1923, and was appointed Editor the following year, serving until 1950. He was also active in the

Institute of Journalists The Chartered Institute of Journalists is a professional association for journalists and is the senior such body in the UK and the oldest in the world. History The ''Chartered Institute of Journalists'' was proposed during a meeting in Manches ...

, and in retirement was the President of the

Mitcham and Morden Mitcham is an area within the London Borough of Merton in South London, England. It is centred southwest of Charing Cross. Originally a village in the county of Surrey, today it is mainly a residential suburb, and includes Mitcham Common. I ...

Conservative Association.WATSON, Arthur E.
, '' Who Was Who''

References

1880 births 1969 deaths People educated at Alleyn's School Alumni of Northumbria University British Army personnel of World War I British newspaper editors Writers from Newcastle upon Tyne Royal Field Artillery officers The Daily Telegraph people Alumni of Armstrong College, Durham 20th-century English businesspeople {{UK-journalist-stub