Walter Thomas Layton, 1st Baron Layton (15 March 1884 – 14 February 1966), was a British economist, editor, newspaper proprietor and

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

politician.

Background and education

Layton was the son of Alfred John Layton of

Woking Woking ( ) is a town and borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in north-west Surrey, England, around from central London. It appears in Domesday Book as ''Wochinges'', and its name probably derives from that of a Anglo-Saxon settleme ...

Surrey Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...

, and Mary Johnson. He was educated at King's College School, Westminster City School, University College, London and

Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any ...

Career

He became a lecturer in economics at

in 1908, then from 1909 to 1914 he was a Fellow of Gonville and Caius College. A notable economist, Layton worked for the

Ministry of Munitions The Minister of Munitions was a British government position created during the First World War to oversee and co-ordinate the production and distribution of munitions for the war effort. The position was created in response to the Shell Crisis o ...

during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, then at the fledgling Economic and Financial Organization of the League of Nations. In 1922 he was appointed editor of ''

The Economist ''The Economist'' is a British newspaper published weekly in printed magazine format and daily on Electronic publishing, digital platforms. It publishes stories on topics that include economics, business, geopolitics, technology and culture. M ...

'', a post he held until 1938, and from 1944 to 1963 was also Chairman of The Economist Newspaper Ltd. His editorship was of profound importance to the newspaper, and he was probably the person to whom it owes most thanks for its survival and continued independence. He was editorial director of the '' News Chronicle'' (1930–40), and returned to the ''Chronicle'' after the war, where he remained until the newspaper ceased publication in 1960. He was a member of the

committee that produced '' Britain's Industrial Future'', otherwise known as the ''Liberal Yellow Book''. Layton was again drafted in to work for the government during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, holding positions in the Ministry of Supply (from May 1940) and the

Ministry of Production Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian mi ...

. Head of Joint War Production Staff 1942 to 1943. After the war, he served as Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from 1949 to 1957.

Honours

Layton was made a CBE in 1917 and a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour in 1919. He was knighted in 1930 and in 1947 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Layton, of Danehill in the County of Sussex.

Liberal politics

Layton stood unsuccessfully for parliament three times as a Liberal. He fought Burnley in 1922, Cardiff South in 1923 and in 1929 he switched again to fight the London University seat. However, Layton's importance in Liberal politics had much more to do with his work at the '' News Chronicle'' and ''

'' where he became a prominent member of a group of Liberals who had a major influence on public opinion. Their orbits were the

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and

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villages. They moved in

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, the

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, and

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circles. Among their contemporaries were Maynard Keynes,

William Beveridge William Henry Beveridge, 1st Baron Beveridge, (5 March 1879 – 16 March 1963) was a British economist and Liberal Party (UK), Liberal politician who was a Progressivism, progressive, social reformer, and eugenicist who played a central role ...

, Gilbert Murray, and Seebohm Rowntree. Layton would later chair the executive committee of the Liberal Industrial Inquiry which produced the celebrated Yellow Book of 1928.

Marriage and children

Lord Layton married Eleanor Dorothea Osmaston, daughter of Eleanor Margaret and Francis Beresford Plumptre Osmaston, in 1910. They had seven children: * The Hon. Margaret Dorothea Layton MA (13 March 1911 – 5 July 1962), married Alfred Geiringer (1911-1996) of

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, four children * Michael John Layton, 2nd Baron Layton (28 September 1912 – 23 January 1989), married Dorothy Rose Cross (1916-1994), two children * Lt. Col. the Hon. David Layton MBE (5 July 1914 – 31 July 2009), educ. Gresham's School and

Cambridge University The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

, married (1) (Joan) Elizabeth Gray, three children; married (2) Joy Parkinson (d. 2013) * The Hon. Jean Mary Layton (14 April 1916 – 8 July 2017), violinist and music therapist, 100th birthday marked by Classic FM in 2016, married Paul Eisler (d.1966), two children * The Hon. Olive Shirley Layton (18 December 1918 – 22 June 2009), actress, married Peter Gellhorn, composer and conductor (1912-2004), four children * The Hon. (Elizabeth) Ruth Frances Layton (27 April 1923 – 4 June 2016), served in ATS, married Edward Gutierrez Pegna (1919-2009), four children * The Hon. Christopher Walter Layton (31 December 1929 – 12 March 2023), married (1) Anneliese Margaret von Thadden, two children; married (2) Margaret Ann Moon, three children; married (3) Wendy Elizabeth Christine Bartlett, one child Layton died in February 1966, aged 81, and was succeeded in the barony by his eldest son.

References

External links

Photograph (1953-01-10): Jean Monnet and Lord Layton
on European NAvigator * {{DEFAULTSORT:Layton, Walter Layton, 1st Baron of 1884 births 1966 deaths Alumni of University College London British magazine editors Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Fellows of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge Knights Bachelor Liberal Party (UK) hereditary peers Members of the Order of the Companions of Honour People educated at King's College School, London People educated at Westminster City School The Economist editors Liberal Party (UK) parliamentary candidates Barons created by George VI