John Alfred Spender

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. John Alfred Spender (23 December 1862 - 21 June 1942) was a British journalist, newspaper editor, and author. He is best known for serving as the editor of the London newspaper the Westminster Gazette from 1896 until 1922. Spender was the eldest of four sons born to John Kent Spender, a doctor, and his wife, the novelist Lillian Spender. He was educated at Bath College and Balliol College, Oxford, where he did well in his studies but missed a first in Greats due to illness. Though Benjamin Jowett, the Master of Balliol, suggested that Spender become a lawyer, Spender sought out a career in journalism instead. In this he had the assistance of his uncle William Saunders, who owned the Western and Eastern Morning News as well as the Central News Ageny. After a brief period as Saunders's secretary, Spender was offered a position as a leader writer for The Echo by John Passmore Edwards, though their relationship proved difficult and Spender left after only five months in the post.