W. R. Lawson


William Ramage Lawson, generally referred to as W. R. Lawson, was a British journalist, economist and author.

History

Lawson was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland, a son of James Lawson and Margaret Lawson, ne Webster
Around 1864 he arrived in Adelaide, South Australia, and was employed by pastoralist George Fife Angas as his private secretary. One of his tasks was to prepare for publication Angas's History of the Newcastle upon Tyne Sunday School Union.
He was noticed by the editor of the South Australian Register, and offered a position with the paper, which had a reputation for high-quality journalism. Lawson accepted and spent three years with them, during which time his abilities were recognised, and when he announced he was leaving for Europe, hastened on account of his wife's precarious health, his farewells attested to his contribution to the paper and his personal popularity.
He was a prolific writer, though his handwriting was execrable. During his time in Adelaide he also supplied individual essays to The Argus, the Sydney Morning Herald, and the Brisbane Courier, and a weekly letter to selected country newspapers.
While in Europe he continued sending copy to The Register, and acted as that paper's correspondent covering the Franco-Prussian War, for which he had the advantage of a fluent knowledge of German.
On reaching England he found employment with the London Standard, the Evening News, the Financial News and the Financial Times, which he served as Editor 1890–1891.
He wrote around a dozen books, mostly on economics topics.
He died in Worthing, West Sussex, and was buried at the Heene Cemetery in Worthing, West Sussex.

Family

Lawson married Ida Dora Eisenhuth on 23 May 1864. Their children include:
Most, if not all, of these titles are available as modern facsimile reprints.