A fact from Sir Arthur Pearson, 1st Baronet appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 12 December 2005. The text of the entry was as follows:
Did you know... that the Scouting movement's "one good turn" was inaugurated on behalf of British newspaper magnateCyril Arthur Pearson, who founded several newspapers before going blind with glaucoma and then devoted his life in support of the blind?
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Latest comment: 18 years ago6 comments2 people in discussion
The Daily Express article says it was sold in 1914. Since this involves a change in its politics, which date is correct? Septentrionalis 20:02, 19 January 2006 (UTC)Reply
Add: a BBC article [1] gives 1916. Clearly there is some confusion amongst sources. BillC 23:14, 19 January 2006 (UTC)Reply
After some research, I'm tending to the view that Beaverbrook's holding in the Express became a majority share in 1916. In a review of a Beaverbrook biography, Piers Brendon, author of The Life and Death of The Press Barons gives 1916. The history section of a report by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in August 1985 records that Beaverbrook started purchasing shares in the Express from its start in 1900, and gradually increased his holding until it became a majority in 1916. A bio on the Beaverbrook Foundation's website also gives 1916, adding that Beaverbrook himself drew little attention to the fact at the time. Any thoughts? BillC 00:05, 21 January 2006 (UTC)Reply
I didn't know there was a question till I ran across these two articles. A biography of Lloyd George might explain the sequence of events, but 1916 looks good on your evidence. I'll get back to you. If we can't find an explanation, how about a genuine, non-disputatious content RfC? Septentrionalis 03:49, 21 January 2006 (UTC)Reply
A. N. Wilson (After the Victorians) says he bought a "controlling interest" in the fall of 1916, and dedicated the paper to building up Bonar Law and turning out Asquith. Presumably you are right: he built up slowly, and Pearson's shares were one step. I'll edit after I see what AJP Taylor actually wrote. Septentrionalis 03:50, 16 March 2006 (UTC)Reply
