Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-10

than month.
Lord Burnham, the proprietor OF
the Daily Telegraph, was the last of
the old school of London newspaper
owners. Through his working years.
from young manhoo' to an older age
than most men remain in harness,
he controlled the business affairs
and the editorial policies of that
paper. He made IL one of the great
est properties among newspapers, as
well as a great aper from the news
standpoint. Born Edward Levy, on
December 2S, 1888, oldest of a fam
lily of eight children of ]. NJ. Levy,
he assumed, in 1875, the surname of
his uncle, Lionel Lawson, and was
Edward Levy-Lawson. On october
13, 1892, he was created baronet,
and on July 81, 1908, he was raised
to the peerage as Baron Burnham.
His title was taken from the Hun
dred of Burnham, Bucks, which con-
tains most of the Hall Barn estate,
which was his country seat.
HCnOred by Journalists.
On the occasion of his eightieth birth
day, in 1913 the journalists of Great Brit
ain paid a remarkable tribute of their re-
spect. A large delegation headed by Lord
Northcliffe visited Lord Burnhams coun-
try house and presented an address to the
dozen of newspaper proprietors, which
was signed by all the leading British
newspaper men. Messages of congratula-
tions were sent by the king and queen,
by many public men and organizations,
and kilograms of congratulations came
from all parts of the world.
The career of the proprietor of the Daily
Telegraph was one of hard work and
steady advancement from a small begin
ming. After an academic schooling at the
University College school in London,
where he won several prizes, he was given
the choice between entering London uni
versity or joining his father in business.
He selected the latter pursuit. His father
was head of a printing firm, and in 1865
had acquired n small newspaper. the
Daily Telegraph and Courier. Young
Levy was given charge of this property
in 1855 and spent his life in developing
1t into a great newspaper.
Paper of the People.
For many years the Daily Telegraph
was the largest London paper in the
number of its columns, and probably no
newspaper i'm the world has expended
more money in telegraph and cable tolls,
1t has always been the paper of the
middle classes, as the Times was tradi-
81 ~ nd
official world, of the universities and the
Church of England, and as the Morning
Post has been the organ of society. Tho
number of its columns of advertising for
many years gave evidence that 1t was
the most profitable property
Lord Burnham was active and promi-
nent through his later life i'm tho News
paper Press Fund and the Intitute of
Journalists, and in various public move
ments, and was a prominent Free Mason.
A few years ago he retired from active
newspaper work, and spent most of his
time surrounded by his family at his
country place. There he enjoyed shooting
and other outdoor pursuits, and enter
tanned at different times the late King
Edward and King George.
Wife Long Dead.
Lord Burnham married on February 20
1862, Henrietta, only daughter of Benz
jamin Nottingham Webster, the famous
actor manager. She died in 1897. Tho
couple had two sons and one daughter.
The oldest son, the Hon. Harry Lawson
is tho active manager of the Telegraph
and has represented London districts in
the House of Commons since 1885. The
second son is lieutenant-colonel, the Hon.
William Lawson. commanding the Second
Regiment, Royal Bucks Hussars.
All Lord Burnham's three grandsons
were engaged on active service from the
first day of the European war. and two
have been killed in action.