Walter Runciman - Encyclopedia

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES

"WALTER RUNCIMAN (1870-), British politician, was born at South Shields Nov. 19 1870, the son of Sir Walter Runciman, 1st Bart., a Newcastle ship-owner. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and afterwards joined his father in his shipping business, being from 1896 to 1905 managing director of the Moor line of cargo steamers. In 1898 he unsuccessfully contested Gravesend in the Liberal interest, but was elected for Oldham in 1899, although he only held the seat for a year. In 1902 he stood successfully for Dewsbury, and retained this seat until 1916. In 1905 he entered Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's Government as parliamentary secretary to the Local Government Board. He became financial secretary to the Treasury in 1907, president of the Board of Education in 1908, and was president of the Board of Agriculture from 1911 to 1914. From 1912 to 1914 he was also Commissioner of Woods and Forests, and from 1914 to 1916 president of the Board of Trade. On the formation of Mr. Lloyd George's Ministry in 1916 he retired from the Government.