Martin, Kingsley, 1897-1969

Basil Kingsley Martin (1897-1969) was born in Hereford in 1897 and schooled in the city, in South Africa and at Millfield. After serving in France (1917-18), he spent three years (1919-22) at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he developed his early interest in socialism. Fellowships at Princeton University (1922-23) and at Magdalene College (1924-25) allowed him to pursue research published in 1924 as The Triumph of Lord Palmerston, a study of Press manipulation of public opinion to make an unpopular war feel desirable among the masses. For three years (1924-27) he lectured on politics at the London School of Economics under the guidance of Harold Laski, and in 1927 helped to found The Political Quarterly, of which he became co-editor. Books on Laski and the General Strike brought him to the attention of C P Scott and for three years (1927-30) Martin wrote leading articles for Scott's Manchester Guardian . In 1931 he was appointed editor of the New Statesman and Nation, a position he occupied until 1960. During his prosperous editorship he employed many distinguished journalists, from H. N. Brailsford to R. H. S. Crossman, and in directing the affairs of the paper he was closely associated with J. M. Keynes, an old Cambridge associate. Both during his editorship and after his retirement in 1960 he travelled widely, wrote and lectured. Latterly he lived with his partner of many years, Dorothy Woodman, at Rodmell, near the University of Sussex, where he delivered some lectures.

English journalist, author, and editor.