Hartley Withers

Hartley Withers (15 July 1867 – 21 March 1950) was a British financial journalist and a prolific author of books about finance and financial institutions aimed at a general readership.

His book The Meaning of Money, published in 1909, was considered an important and pioneering explanation and analysis of the financial organisation of modern society. Withers worked as a journalist and editor at The Times and The Morning Post.

At the outbreak of World War I he briefly worked in the British Treasury before becoming editor of The Economist from 1916 to 1921. During the 1920s Withers began to withdraw from regular journalism to focus on writing books.

Early life

Hartley Withers was born on 15 July 1867 at Aigburth, a suburb of Liverpool, the son of Henry Hartley Withers, a bank manager and stockbroker, and his wife Jane Livingston (née Lowndes).[A] He was educated at Westminster School, and matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford in 1886. He graduated in literae humaniores in 1890.

Career

After graduating Withers was employed "for a short time" as an assistant master at Clifton College, a public school in the city of Bristol, after which he worked as a clerk at the Stock Exchange.

In 1894 Withers joined the staff of The Times, working in its City office.

Hartley Withers and Letitia Harrison were married on 8 August 1895.

By 1905 Withers had become discontented with his position at The Times. At that time The Tribune newspaper was in the process of being established as the organ of the British Liberal Party. Withers' senior colleague at The Times, F. Harcourt Kitchin, was invited to become its financial editor but declined the offer. The position was then offered to Withers who accepted. Kitchin, who had a high opinion of his colleague's personal and professional qualities, was horrified at this turn of events and prevailed upon Moberly Bell, the managing director of The Times, to offer to appoint Withers to the position of City editor as a counter offer. Withers then decided to remain at The Times and was appointed to the City editor position.