Arthur Fraser Walter (12 September 1846 – 10 August 1910) was an English newspaper owner and publisher, chief proprietor of ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

'' from 1894 until 1908.

Early life

Born on 12 September 1846, Walter was the second son of John Walter, the third of the name to edit ''

'' since it was established in 1785. He was educated at Eton and

Christ Church, Oxford Christ Church (, the temple or house, ''wikt:aedes, ædes'', of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Founded in 1546 by Henry V ...

(1866–1869), where he played for the

Oxford University Cricket Club Oxford University Cricket Club (OUCC), which represents the University of Oxford, had held first-class status since 1827 when it made its debut in the inaugural University Match between OUCC and Cambridge University Cricket Club (CUCC). Follo ...

. In 1870 he entered

Lincoln's Inn The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, commonly known as Lincoln's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for Barrister, barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister ...

to study law, and in 1874 was

called to the bar The call to the bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received "call to ...

as a barrister, but never practised. On 28 July 1847, the second John Walter, Arthur's grandfather, died, and his father the third John Walter succeeded to the management of ''The Times''.

Career

Arthur Walter made agreements with American firms to sell the

Encyclopædia Britannica The is a general knowledge, general-knowledge English-language encyclopaedia. It has been published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. since 1768, although the company has changed ownership seven times. The 2010 version of the 15th edition, ...

and was also responsible for establishing the Times Book Club. Walter's father died on 3 November 1894 and he became the new chief proprietor of ''The Times''. He remained so until 1908, when the newspaper was converted into a company, and he was the first chairman of the board of directors of the company that bought the newspaper. Walter was also a Lieutenant Colonel of Volunteers, a Director of the London & Southwestern Railway, High Steward of

Wokingham Wokingham ( ) is a market town and civil parish in Berkshire, England. It is the main administrative centre of the wider Borough of Wokingham. At the 2021 census the parish had a population of 38,284 and the wider built-up area had a populati ...

, and a member of the Travellers' and Union Clubs.

Private life

On 15 October 1872, Walter married Henrietta Maria Anson, eldest daughter of Rev. Thomas Anchitel Anson. Walter died on 10 August 1910. His great granddaughter is the actress Harriet Walter.

Notes

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Walter, Arthur Fraser 1846 births 1910 deaths Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford 19th-century British newspaper publishers (people) People educated at Eton College Walter family Oxford University cricketers