Alfred Harmsworth, 1st Baron Northcliffe
| The Viscount Northcliffe | |
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Portrait of Alfred Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Northcliffe, by Gertrude Kasebier
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| Born |
Alfred Charles William Harmsworth July 15, 1865 Chapelizod, County Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | August 14, 1922 (aged 57) Carlton House Gardens, London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Stamford Grammar School, Stamford, Lincolnshire, England |
| Occupation | Publisher |
| Title | 1st Viscount Northcliffe |
| Parent(s) | Alfred Harmsworth & Geraldine Mary Maffett |
| Relatives |
Cecil Harmsworth (brother) Harold Harmsworth (brother) Leicester Harmsworth (brother) Hildebrand Harmsworth (brother) |
Alfred Charles William Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Northcliffe (15 July 1865 – 14 August 1922) was a British newspaper and publishing magnate. As owner of the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror, he was an early developer of popular journalism, and he exercised vast influence over British popular opinion during the Edwardian era. Lord Beaverbrook said he was "the greatest figure who ever strode down Fleet Street." About the beginning of the 20th century there were increasing attempts to develop popular journalism intended for the working class and tending to emphasize sensational topics. Harmsworth was the main innovator. P. P. Catterall and Colin Seymour-Ure conclude that:
More than anyone [he] ... shaped the modern press. Developments he introduced or harnessed remain central: broad contents, exploitation of advertising revenue to subsidize prices, aggressive marketing, subordinate regional markets, independence from party control.
Northcliffe had a powerful role during the First World War, especially by criticizing the government regarding the Shell Crisis of 1915. He directed a mission to the new ally, the United States, during 1917, and was director of enemy propaganda during 1918.
His Amalgamated Press employed writers such as Arthur Mee and John Hammerton, and its subsidiary, the Educational Book Company, published The Harmsworth Self-Educator, The Children's Encyclopædia, and Harmsworth's Universal Encyclopaedia.
Although born in Chapelizod, County Dublin, Harmsworth was educated at Stamford School in Lincolnshire, England, from 1876 and at Henley House School in Kilburn, London from 1878. A master at Henley House who was to prove important to his future was J. V. Milne, the father of A. A. Milne, who according to H. G. Wells was at school with him at the time and encouraged him to start the school magazine.
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