# Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Iwan-Müller, Ernest Bruce

​IWAN-MÜLLER, ERNEST BRUCE (1853–1910), journalist, born at 8 Hereford Square, South Kensington, on 26 March 1853, was only son of Sévère Félicité Iwan-Müller by his marriage with Anne, daughter of John Moule of Elmsley Lovett, Worcester- shire. His mother and an only sister, Elizabeth, survived him. His paternal grandfather, a Russian by birth, named Troubetskoy, was exiled from his native country for political reasons and led for some years a wandering life under the assumed name of Iwan-Müller. He finally settled in England and married the daughter of Charles Wilkins, artist and engraver.
After four years (1863-7) spent at a preparatory school at Thurmanston in Leicestershire, young Iwan-Müller was sent to King's College School, London, where he remained till the end of the Biunmer term of 1871. In October 1873 he entered New College, Oxford, as a commoner, and graduated B.A. (with a first class in literæ humaniores) in December 1876. He proceeded M.A. in 1880. As an undergraduate he was a prominent speaker at the Union and also a frequent contributor to the 'Shotover Paper,' a humorous journal, modelled on the Cambridge 'Light Green,' which enjoyed great popularity in the university. After graduating, Iwan-Müller was senior classical master at Brackenbury's school, Wimbledon, and in 1879 he returned to Oxford, remaining there till 1884, as a private tutor and 'coach.' Both as an undergraduate and as 'coach' he was a well-known figure in Oxford, and very popular among the young men of literary and poUtical prochvities. He always declared himself an 'out and out Tory' and scouted the more modern title of conservative; but despite the outspokenness of his political opinions, his geniality and humour won him friends among men of all parties. In May 1884 he left Oxford to become editor of the 'Manchester Courier,' a post which he held till June 1893, and in which he did much to promote a great revival of conservatism in Lancashire. In June 1893 he came to London as assistant editor of the 'Pall Mall Gazette' under Mr. Harry Cust. In February 1896 he left the 'Pall Mall' for the 'Daily Telegraph,' on which he remained till his death. Besides his regular work as a leader-writer, he undertook several special missions for that journal, including a long visit to South Africa during the Boer war, a visit to Ireland in 1907 and another to Paris during the crisis caused by the Austrian annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the autumn of 1908. While living in London he also contributed many articles on political subjects to the 'Quarterly Review,' the 'Fortnightly Review,' and other leading magazines. His published works are 'Lord Milner in South Africa' (1902), which is a mine of information on events leading up to the Boer war, and 'Ireland To-day and To-morrow' (1907). At the time of his death he was busily at work on a book dealing with the 'Life and Times of Sir Robert Morier,' for which he had collected much valuable material, which was subsequently embodied in the 'Life' (2 vols. 1911) written by Sir Robert's daughter, Mrs. Wemyss.
Iwan-Müller was conspicuous among the journalists of his time by the range of his knowledge, especially in the field of foreign politics. He enjoyed the confidence of some of the leading statesmen of his time, notably Mr. Arthur Balfour and Lord Salisbury, and perhaps no journalist was ever better acquainted with the inner history of important public events. His discretion was unfailing, and he was trusted and consulted by the leaders of his party ​to an extent as exceptional as it was, owing to his own modesty and reticence, unsuspected by the outside world. A 'genial giant' of exuberant vitality, he was welcome in every society, while his generosity, especially to the less successful members of his own profession, was unbounded.
Iwan-Müller died in London, unmarried, on 14 May 1910, and was buried at Brookwood. An excellent oil portrait by Hugh de T. Glazebrook belongs to the artist.
[Personal knowledge; Musings without Method, in Blackwood's Mag., July 1910, pp. 143-146, a brilliant and appreciative sketch. See also The Times, 16 May 1910, and Daily Telegraph, 10 May 1910.]
M.