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{{short description|1884–1945 daily British newspaper published in London}}
{{infobox newspaper
{{infobox newspaper
| name = Financial News
| name = Financial News
| image =
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
| foundation = 23 January 1884: As ''Financial and Mining News'' <br> July 1884: name changed to ''Financial News'' <br>1945: Merged with ''[[Financial Times]]''
| foundation = 23 January 1884, as ''Financial and Mining News''<br />July 1884: name changed to ''Financial News''<br />1945: merged with ''[[Financial Times]]''
| format = [[Broadsheet]]
| type = [[Daily newspaper]]
| owners =
| format = [[Broadsheet]]
| political =
| owners =
| headquarters = London
| political =
| editor = Harry Marks (founder)
| headquarters = London
| editor = [[Harry Marks (journalist)|Harry Marks]] (founder)
⚫
| price =
| audience =
| price =
| circulation =
| audience =
| ISSN =
| circulation =
| website =
| ISSN =
⚫
| website =
}}
}}
⚫
The '''''Financial News''''' was a daily [[United Kingdom|British]] [[List of newspapers in the United Kingdom|newspaper]] published in [[London]]. It was founded in 1884 by Harry Marks, who had begun on [[Newspapers in the United States|United States newspapers]], and set up to expose [[fraud]]ulent investments. Marks himself was key to the paper's early growth, when it had a buccaneering life fighting against corruption and competing with the ''[[Financial Times]]'', but after Marks' death it declined. Bought by publishers [[Eyre & Spottiswoode]] in 1928 and run by [[Brendan Bracken]], it eventually merged with its great rival in 1945.


⚫
The '''''Financial News''''' was a daily British [[List of newspapers in the United Kingdom|newspaper]] published in London. It was founded in 1884 by [[Harry Marks (journalist)|Harry Marks]]. Marks began his career with [[Newspapers in the United States|United States newspapers]]. He set up Financial News to expose [[Securities fraud|fraudulent investments]]. Marks himself was key to the paper's early growth, when it had a buccaneering nature to fight against corruption and to compete with the ''[[Financial Times]]''. After Marks' death, sales declined. ''Financial News'' was subsequently bought by publishers [[Eyre & Spottiswoode]] in 1928 and run by [[Brendan Bracken]]. It eventually merged with ''Financial Times'' in 1945.
⚫
==History==


⚫
==History==
===Early history===
===Early history===
[[File:Harry Marks Vanity Fair 8 June 1889.jpg|thumb|right|<center>''Financial News''<br>Founder Harry Marks as caricatured in [[Vanity Fair (British magazine)|Vanity Fair]], June 1889</center>]]
[[File:Harry Marks Vanity Fair 8 June 1889.jpg|thumb|''Financial News'' founder Harry Marks as caricatured in ''[[Vanity Fair (British magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'', June 1889]]
The first four-page edition of the ''Financial and Mining News'' appeared on 23 January 1884; it adopted the shorter title that July.<ref name="Early history">Dilwyn Porter, "'A Trusted Guide of the Investing Public': Harry Marks and the ''Financial News'' 1884-1916" in R.P.T. Davenport-Hines, "Speculators and patriots: essays in business biography", Routledge, 1986, p. 3.</ref> Founder [[Harry Marks]] imported techniques he had learned in the United States to target those offering questionable investment schemes, intending that his paper be known for campaigning.<ref name="Marks established">George Robb, "White-Collar Crime in Modern England", [[Cambridge University Press]], 2002, p. 116.</ref>
The first four-page edition of the ''Financial and Mining News'' appeared on 23 January 1884. It adopted the shorter title, ''Financial News'', that July. <ref name="Early history">Dilwyn Porter, "'A Trusted Guide of the Investing Public': Harry Marks and the ''Financial News'' 1884-1916" in R.P.T. Davenport-Hines, "Speculators and patriots: essays in business biography", Routledge, 1986, p. 3.</ref> Founder [[Harry Marks (journalist)|Harry Marks]] imported techniques he had learned in the United States which was to target those offering questionable investment schemes. His intention was that his paper should be known for campaigning. <ref name="Marks established">George Robb, "White-Collar Crime in Modern England", [[Cambridge University Press]], 2002, p. 116.</ref>


The newspaper scored an early significant success in exposing corruption in [[local government in London|local government]]. Marks himself was one of the main authors of a series of articles that began appearing on 25 October 1886 and carried on for nearly a year. The newspaper uncovered the involvement of officials and members of the [[Metropolitan Board of Works]], which ran local government services in London, in schemes to personally enrich themselves.<ref name="MBW corruption">David E. Owen, "The Government of Victorian London", Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1982, p. 175.</ref> However the early years saw the company frequently summoned to the law courts to defend [[libel]] actions; there were three major cases between 1888 and 1890.<ref name="Libel cases">Kynaston, 29-30</ref>
The newspaper scored an early significant success in exposing corruption in [[local government in London|local government]]. Marks himself was one of the main authors of a series of articles that began appearing on 25 October 1886 and carried on for nearly a year. The newspaper uncovered the involvement of officials and members of the [[Metropolitan Board of Works]] that ran local government services in London in schemes to personally enrich themselves. <ref name="MBW corruption">David E. Owen, "The Government of Victorian London", Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1982, p. 175.</ref> However, the early years saw the company frequently summoned to the law courts to defend [[libel]] actions. There were three major cases between 1888 and 1890. <ref name="Libel cases">Kynaston, 29-30</ref>


The paper gained a rival in 1888 when the ''[[Financial Times]]'' published by [[Horatio Bottomley]] appeared. The two papers frequently attacked each other's advertisers, and criticised the investment schemes the other promoted, until a truce was worked out after a bad-tempered dispute over "the Nitrate King" Colonel [[John Thomas North|J. T. North]] who was developing the Nitrate Railway in South America. After then they continued to compete, but more in the nature of a friendly rivalry.<ref name="FT truce">Kynaston, 23-5</ref>
The paper gained a rival when the ''[[Financial Times]]'', published by [[Horatio Bottomley]], appeared in 1888. The two papers frequently attacked each other's advertisers, and criticised the investment schemes the other promoted, until a truce was worked out after a bad-tempered dispute over "the Nitrate King" Colonel [[John Thomas North|J. T. North]] who was developing the Nitrate Railway in South America. After that they continued as competitors, but with a nature of friendly rivalry.<ref name="FT truce">Kynaston, 23-5</ref>


It was a financially successful venture and in March 1898 Marks floated the company on the stock market, with the understanding that he would continue as editor.<ref name="Share offer">"The Financial News, Limited." (advert), ''The Times'', 21 March 1898, p. 4.</ref> Its success continued and at the ordinary general meeting in January 1911, the company announced a dividend and bonus amounting to 35% on ordinary shares; the announcement brought cheers.<ref name="35% dividend">"The Financial News (Limited)", ''The Times'', 19 January 1911, p. 16.</ref> The paper was among those that exposed the details of the [[Marconi scandal]].
It was a financially successful venture. Marks noted the company on the stock market in March 1898, with the understanding that he would continue as editor. <ref name="Share offer">"The Financial News, Limited." (advert), ''The Times'', 21 March 1898, p. 4.</ref> Its success continued, and at the ordinary general meeting in January 1911, the company announced a dividend and bonus amounting to 35% on ordinary shares. The announcement brought cheers. <ref name="35% dividend">"The Financial News (Limited)", ''The Times'', 19 January 1911, p. 16.</ref> The paper was among those that exposed the details of the [[Marconi scandal]].


===Marks' departure===
===Marks' departure===
Handing over the editorship in 1909 to Ellis Powell, Marks remained the controlling influence as proprietor.<ref name="Powell editor">Griffiths, 314</ref> He suffered increasing bouts of ill health due to [[gout]] and had at least one [[stroke]] in 1915, and was forced to cease any active involvement in the newspaper; he died in December 1916. Although he left his interest to a nephew, the existing board fought off his attempts to take control.<ref name="Marks ill health">Kynaston, 79-81</ref> Eventually the Marks estate was sold in 1919 and most of the ''Financial News'' shares were bought by [[Sir John Jarvis, 1st Baronet|John Jarvis]]. In 1926 it was sold again to the Trireme Trust, although with Jarvis remaining chairman; however mounting losses of the ''[[Morning Post]],'' which the Trust also owned, forced another sale in 1928.<ref name="Jarvis-Trireme">Kynaston, 100-1</ref> During this period, it absorbed one major rival, the ''[[Financier and Bullionist]]''<ref>National Institute of Economic and Social Research, ''A Statistical Analysis of Advertising Expenditure'', p.59</ref>
Handing over the editorship in 1909 to Ellis Powell, Marks remained the controlling influence as proprietor.<ref name="Powell editor">Griffiths, 314</ref> He suffered increasing bouts of ill-health due to [[gout]] and had at least one [[stroke]] in 1915. He was forced to cease any active involvement in the newspaper and died in December 1916. Although he left his interest to a nephew, the existing board fought off his attempts to take control. <ref name="Marks ill health">Kynaston, 79-81</ref> The Marks estate was eventually sold in 1919, and most of the ''Financial News'' shares were bought by [[Sir John Jarvis, 1st Baronet|John Jarvis]]. In 1926 it was sold again to the Trireme Trust. Jarvis remained as chairman. However, the mounting losses of the ''[[Morning Post]]'', which the Trust also owned, forced another sale in 1928.<ref name="Jarvis-Trireme">Kynaston, 100-1</ref> During this period it absorbed one major rival, the ''[[Financier and Bullionist]]''.<ref>National Institute of Economic and Social Research, ''A Statistical Analysis of Advertising Expenditure'', p.59</ref>


===Brendan Bracken===
===Brendan Bracken===
The new ownership was put together by [[Brendan Bracken]], who had been elected to the board of [[Eyre & Spottiswoode]]. Bracken persuaded the board to buy the ''Financial News'' and then bought a number of other publications (the ''[[Investors Chronicle]]'' and a half-share in ''[[The Economist]]'' among them); Bracken himself took responsibility for the ''Financial News''.<ref name="Bracken">Griffiths, 300-1</ref> In the early 1930s, circulation rose, but the ''Financial Times'' was still selling about three or four times as many copies. In Spring 1937 sales hit 10,000, but only briefly.<ref name="circulation">Kynaston, 123</ref>
The new ownership was put together by [[Brendan Bracken]], who had been elected to the board of [[Eyre & Spottiswoode]]. Bracken persuaded the board to buy the ''Financial News'' and then bought a number of other publications (the ''[[Investors Chronicle]]'' and a half-share in ''[[The Economist]]'' among them). Bracken himself took responsibility for the ''Financial News''. <ref name="Bracken">Griffiths, 300-1</ref> Circulation rose in the early 1930s, but the ''Financial Times'' was still selling about three or four times as many copies. In spring 1937 sales hit 10,000, but only briefly. <ref name="circulation">Kynaston, 123</ref>


When [[Adolf Hitler]] was appointed Chancellor of Germany, the ''Financial News'' leader was headed "Heil Hitler!"; it argued that Hitler was the prisoner of the non-Nazi majority in his government, and that the Nazis were highly unlikely to "attempt to base their power on armed force".<ref name="Hitler leader">"Heil Hitler!" (leader), ''Financial News'', 31 January 1933.</ref> However, the paper soon changed its line, arguing at the time of the occupation of the Rhineland that a stand would have to be taken against German military aggression.<ref name="Rheinland">Kynaston, 128-9</ref> [[Hargreaves Parkinson]] became editor in 1938.
When [[Adolf Hitler]] was appointed Chancellor of Germany, the ''Financial News'' lead heading was "Heil Hitler!". It argued that Hitler was the prisoner of the non-Nazi majority in his government, and that the Nazis were highly unlikely to "attempt to base their power on armed forces". <ref name="Hitler leader">"Heil Hitler!" (leader), ''Financial News'', 31 January 1933. </ref> However, the paper soon changed its line, arguing at the time of the [[remilitarization of the Rhineland]] that a stand would have to be taken against German military aggression. <ref name="Rheinland">Kynaston, 128-9</ref> [[Hargreaves Parkinson]] became editor in 1938.


===Merger and closure===
===Merger and closure===
During [[World War II]], Bracken became close to [[William Berry, 1st Viscount Camrose|Lord Camrose]], the proprietor since 1919 of the ''Financial Times''. The two privately agreed to raise their advertising rates to protect their finances, and eventually agreed that the other would have first refusal if one wanted to sell. Towards the end of the war, Camrose decided to sell the ''Financial Times'', and arrangements for a merger were put in place. The financial deal was a complex one: the ''Financial News'' raised the cost of buying a controlling interest in the ''Financial Times'' by selling its own offices and investments, and by a share issue, but could only make up the full amount by simultaneously selling to the ''Financial Times'' the [[copyright]] and goodwill of the ''Financial News''. Camrose himself bought some ''Financial News'' shares to help the deal along.<ref name="Financial deal">Kynaston, 142-4</ref>
During the [[Second World War]], Bracken became close to [[William Berry, 1st Viscount Camrose|Lord Camrose]], the proprietor since 1919 of the ''Financial Times''. The two privately agreed to raise their advertising rates to protect their finances, and eventually agreed that the other would have first option if one wanted to sell. Towards the end of the war, Camrose decided to sell the ''Financial Times'', and arrangements for a merger were put in place. The financial deal was a complex one. The ''Financial News'' raised the finances to buy a controlling interest in the ''Financial Times'' by selling its own offices and investments and by a share issue. ''Financial News'' made up the full amount by selling the [[copyright]] and [[Goodwill (accounting)|goodwill]] of the ''Financial News'' to ''Financial Times''. Camrose himself bought some ''Financial News'' shares to help the deal along. <ref name="Financial deal">Kynaston, 142-4</ref>


The ''Financial News'' ceased publication on 1 October 1945; the ''Financial Times'' afterwards at first appeared with the title "Financial Times, incorporating The Financial News".<ref name="FT merger">"The Financial Times" (advertisement), ''The Times'', 1 October 1945, p. 9.</ref> The three top jobs in the new merged paper went to former ''Financial News'' employees, including Parkinson as editor.<ref name="Merged paper">Kynaston, 145</ref>
The ''Financial News'' ceased publication on 1 October 1945. The ''Financial Times'' appeared at first with the title "Financial Times, incorporating The Financial News". <ref name="FT merger">"The Financial Times" (advertisement), ''The Times'', 1 October 1945, p. 9.</ref> The three top jobs in the new merged paper went to former ''Financial News'' employees, including Parkinson as editor.<ref name="Merged paper">Kynaston, 145</ref>


==Editors==
==Editors==
:1884: [[Harry Hananel Marks]]
:1884: [[Harry Hananel Marks]]
:1916: [[Ellis T. Powell]]
:1916: [[Ellis Powell (journalist)|Ellis Powell]]
:1921: [[Herbert O'Neill]]
:1921: [[Herbert O'Neill]]
:1921: W. A. Doman and William Lang
:1921: W. A. Doman and William Lang
Line 56: Line 58:


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
*Griffiths, Dennis. ''Fleet Street: Five hundred years of the Press''. British Library, 2006
*Griffiths, Dennis. ''Fleet Street: Five hundred years of the Press''. British Library, 2006
*Kynaston, David. ''The Financial Times: A Centenary History''. Viking, 1988
*[[Kynaston, David]]. ''The Financial Times: A Centenary History''. Viking, 1988


<br>
{{Defunct UK newspapers}}
{{Defunct UK newspapers}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Financial News (1884-1945)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Financial News (1884-1945)}}
[[Category:Business newspapers]]
[[Category:Business newspapers published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Publications established in 1884]]
[[Category:Publications established in 1884]]
[[Category:Publications disestablished in 1945]]
[[Category:Publications disestablished in 1945]]
[[Category:Defunct newspapers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Defunct newspapers published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1884 establishments in the United Kingdom]]

Revision as of 18:45, 19 June 2024

Financial News
TypeDaily newspaper
FormatBroadsheet
EditorHarry Marks (founder)
Founded23 January 1884, as Financial and Mining News
July 1884: name changed to Financial News
1945: merged with Financial Times
HeadquartersLondon

The Financial News was a daily British newspaper published in London. It was founded in 1884 by Harry Marks. Marks began his career with United States newspapers. He set up Financial News to expose fraudulent investments. Marks himself was key to the paper's early growth, when it had a buccaneering nature to fight against corruption and to compete with the Financial Times. After Marks' death, sales declined. Financial News was subsequently bought by publishers Eyre & Spottiswoode in 1928 and run by Brendan Bracken. It eventually merged with Financial Times in 1945.

History

Early history

Financial News founder Harry Marks as caricatured in Vanity Fair, June 1889

The first four-page edition of the Financial and Mining News appeared on 23 January 1884. It adopted the shorter title, Financial News, that July. [1] Founder Harry Marks imported techniques he had learned in the United States which was to target those offering questionable investment schemes. His intention was that his paper should be known for campaigning. [2]

The newspaper scored an early significant success in exposing corruption in local government. Marks himself was one of the main authors of a series of articles that began appearing on 25 October 1886 and carried on for nearly a year. The newspaper uncovered the involvement of officials and members of the Metropolitan Board of Works that ran local government services in London in schemes to personally enrich themselves. [3] However, the early years saw the company frequently summoned to the law courts to defend libel actions. There were three major cases between 1888 and 1890. [4]

The paper gained a rival when the Financial Times, published by Horatio Bottomley, appeared in 1888. The two papers frequently attacked each other's advertisers, and criticised the investment schemes the other promoted, until a truce was worked out after a bad-tempered dispute over "the Nitrate King" Colonel J. T. North who was developing the Nitrate Railway in South America. After that they continued as competitors, but with a nature of friendly rivalry.[5]

It was a financially successful venture. Marks noted the company on the stock market in March 1898, with the understanding that he would continue as editor. [6] Its success continued, and at the ordinary general meeting in January 1911, the company announced a dividend and bonus amounting to 35% on ordinary shares. The announcement brought cheers. [7] The paper was among those that exposed the details of the Marconi scandal.

Marks' departure

Handing over the editorship in 1909 to Ellis Powell, Marks remained the controlling influence as proprietor.[8] He suffered increasing bouts of ill-health due to gout and had at least one stroke in 1915. He was forced to cease any active involvement in the newspaper and died in December 1916. Although he left his interest to a nephew, the existing board fought off his attempts to take control. [9] The Marks estate was eventually sold in 1919, and most of the Financial News shares were bought by John Jarvis. In 1926 it was sold again to the Trireme Trust. Jarvis remained as chairman. However, the mounting losses of the Morning Post, which the Trust also owned, forced another sale in 1928.[10] During this period it absorbed one major rival, the Financier and Bullionist.[11]

Brendan Bracken

The new ownership was put together by Brendan Bracken, who had been elected to the board of Eyre & Spottiswoode. Bracken persuaded the board to buy the Financial News and then bought a number of other publications (the Investors Chronicle and a half-share in The Economist among them). Bracken himself took responsibility for the Financial News. [12] Circulation rose in the early 1930s, but the Financial Times was still selling about three or four times as many copies. In spring 1937 sales hit 10,000, but only briefly. [13]

When Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany, the Financial News lead heading was "Heil Hitler!". It argued that Hitler was the prisoner of the non-Nazi majority in his government, and that the Nazis were highly unlikely to "attempt to base their power on armed forces". [14] However, the paper soon changed its line, arguing at the time of the remilitarization of the Rhineland that a stand would have to be taken against German military aggression. [15] Hargreaves Parkinson became editor in 1938.

Merger and closure

During the Second World War, Bracken became close to Lord Camrose, the proprietor since 1919 of the Financial Times. The two privately agreed to raise their advertising rates to protect their finances, and eventually agreed that the other would have first option if one wanted to sell. Towards the end of the war, Camrose decided to sell the Financial Times, and arrangements for a merger were put in place. The financial deal was a complex one. The Financial News raised the finances to buy a controlling interest in the Financial Times by selling its own offices and investments and by a share issue. Financial News made up the full amount by selling the copyright and goodwill of the Financial News to Financial Times. Camrose himself bought some Financial News shares to help the deal along. [16]

The Financial News ceased publication on 1 October 1945. The Financial Times appeared at first with the title "Financial Times, incorporating The Financial News". [17] The three top jobs in the new merged paper went to former Financial News employees, including Parkinson as editor.[18]

Editors

1884: Harry Hananel Marks
1916: Ellis Powell
1921: Herbert O'Neill
1921: W. A. Doman and William Lang
1924: Laming Worthington-Evans
1925: Hilton Young
1929: Oscar Rudolf Hobson
1934: Maurice Green
1938: Hargreaves Parkinson

Source: David Butler and Anne Sloman, British Political Facts, 1900-1979, p. 441

References

  1. ^ Dilwyn Porter, "'A Trusted Guide of the Investing Public': Harry Marks and the Financial News 1884-1916" in R.P.T. Davenport-Hines, "Speculators and patriots: essays in business biography", Routledge, 1986, p. 3.
  2. ^ George Robb, "White-Collar Crime in Modern England", Cambridge University Press, 2002, p. 116.
  3. ^ David E. Owen, "The Government of Victorian London", Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1982, p. 175.
  4. ^ Kynaston, 29-30
  5. ^ Kynaston, 23-5
  6. ^ "The Financial News, Limited." (advert), The Times, 21 March 1898, p. 4.
  7. ^ "The Financial News (Limited)", The Times, 19 January 1911, p. 16.
  8. ^ Griffiths, 314
  9. ^ Kynaston, 79-81
  10. ^ Kynaston, 100-1
  11. ^ National Institute of Economic and Social Research, A Statistical Analysis of Advertising Expenditure, p.59
  12. ^ Griffiths, 300-1
  13. ^ Kynaston, 123
  14. ^ "Heil Hitler!" (leader), Financial News, 31 January 1933.
  15. ^ Kynaston, 128-9
  16. ^ Kynaston, 142-4
  17. ^ "The Financial Times" (advertisement), The Times, 1 October 1945, p. 9.
  18. ^ Kynaston, 145

Sources

  • Griffiths, Dennis. Fleet Street: Five hundred years of the Press. British Library, 2006
  • Kynaston, David. The Financial Times: A Centenary History. Viking, 1988
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