Robson, William A. (William Alexander), 1895-1980

William Alexander Robson, 1895-1980, was a student at the London School of Economics, gaining his BSC (Economics) First Class Honours in 1922, PhD in 1924 and LLM in 1928. He saw active service as a Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps and RAF during World War One and was called to the Bar in 1922. He did not practice law for long, however, becoming a lecturer at LSE in 1926 and then a Reader in Administrative Law from 1933 to 1946. He was made a professor in 1947 and continued at the school until his retirement in 1962. From 1940 to 1942, Robson was Principal of the Mines Department before becoming Principal of the Ministry of Fuel and Power, 1942 to 1943. He was Assistant Secretary to the Air Ministry 1943 to 1945 and to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 1945. He was also a member of the Council of the Town and Country Planning Association, the Committee on Training in Public Administration for Overseas Countries. From 1950 to 1953 he was chairman of the Greater London Group. In 1930 he helped to found the 'Political Quarterly' and went on to be its joint editor, 1930 to 1975 and chairman of the editorial board from 1975 to his death in 1980.

William Alexander Robson 1895-1980, was educated at Peterborough Lodge School, but left at 15 to work as a clerk. During World War One (1914-1918) he served in the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, 1915-19. Robson entered the London School of Economics in 1919; B.Sc. (Econ.), first-class honours, 1922; Ph.D., 1924; LLM, 1928. He was called to the bar (Lincoln's Inn)in 1922. From 1926-1933 he was a lecturer in industrial and administrative law at the LSE. he was a reader in administrative law, 1933-1947, and became the first professor of public administration, London University, 1947-1962. He was also a founder and joint editor of 'Political Quarterly', 1930-1975, with Leonard Woolf as co-editor, 1931-1959. Robson was an active member of the Fabian Society, and played a leading role in the creation of the Greater London Council, 1963. During World War Two (1939-1945) Robson worked in the Mines Department and other government ministries. From 1950-1953 he was president of the International Political Science Association. His publications include: Aircraft in War and Peace (1916); The Town Councillor (in collaboration with Clement Attlee, 1925); Justice and Administrative Law (1928); Civilization and the Growth of Law (1935); The Government and Misgovernment of London (1939); Great Cities of the World (1954); Local Government in Crisis (1966); Nationalized Industry and Public Ownership (1960); Welfare State and Welfare Society (1976).