Thornton
Leigh Hunt, eldest son of James Leigh Hunt
and Marianne Kent, was born in London on
10th September, 1810. When Thornton was two years old his father,
the editor of the Examiner, was
arrested and charged with libel after he published an article criticizing
the Prince Regent. Hunt was found guilty
and sentenced to two years' imprisonment. Thornton's earliest memories
involved visiting his father in prison and appeared to have an influence
on his future views on journalism.
James Leigh Hunt wanted his son to be an artist and arranged for
him to study the subject in Italy. However, Thornton realised he did
not have enough artistic talent and decided on a career in journalism.
He worked for the Constitutional before being appointing editor
of the North Cheshire Reformer. He later moved to the Glasgow
Argus but developed a national reputation by writing articles
for the Spectator and the Morning
Chronicle.
In 1855 Joseph Moses Levy invited Hunt to
join the recently established Daily Telegraph.
Hunt helped Levy's son, Edward Levy-Lawson,
to edit the newspaper. Soon afterwards Hunt wrote a report on the
possible future of the Daily Telegraph:
"We should report all striking events in science, so told that
the intelligent public can understand what has happened and can see
its bearing on our daily life and our future. The same principle should
apply to all other events - to fashion, to new inventions, to new
methods of conducting business."
Thornton Leigh Hunt, who was the main figure in shaping the early
Daily Telegraph, died on 25th
June, 1873.
(1)
Thornton Leigh Hunt, memorandum sent to Joseph
Moses Levy (1855)
We are only now at the
beginning of a new era in science and let us not forget that science
is to be taught in every school. Our policy should be one of making
the leading daily paper take the lead also in that department of general
yet special intelligence.
We should report all striking events in science, so told that the
intelligent public can understand what has happened and can see its
bearing on our daily life and our future. The same principle should
apply to all other events - to fashion, to new inventions, to new
methods of conducting business.
A paper of high authority should always have at command such men as
can write with correctness, certainty, distinct force and authority
on military, on naval affairs, on law.
(2) Harry
Levy-Lawson, The Story of the Daily
Telegraph (1955)
The editorial columns of the Daily Telegraph at this time (late
1850s) show more evidence of the mind of Thornton Hunt or his leader
writers than of its proprietors who were still fumbling with editorial
direction. Persistently the Daily Telegraph pursued its campaign
for the reform of the House of Lords - "the chartered lords of
misrule ogling in the ancient face of bigotry".
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