OBITUARY

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1937, Page 5

OBITUARY

LORD RUNCIMAN

(United Press Association—-By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright)

LONDON, August 13. The death has occurred of Lord Runciman at the age of 90 years.

Walter (Runciman, sen., the cabin hoy who became a shipping magnate and Lord 'Runciman, was horn at Dunbar, Scotland in July 1847. He was the o-randson, on his mother s side or an owner of sea-going vessels and was put to sea as a hoy to work his way up. For several years he served in sailing ships. At the age of 21, when still an ordinary seaman, he married Ann Lawson. a Northumberland woman. He took his master’s certificate in 1871, and at the age of 84 he still steered his own yacht.

Ho eventually became the owner of vessels, forming the firm of Walter Runciman and Company. He lived to control a fleet of 150 steamers, being head of the Moor Line and other firms. Tn ISO 6 the Government used his intimate knowedge of lifo at sea by appointing him to the Committee of Seaman. Tn the same year he was made a baronet. In 1910 he was president r.f the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom. Elected Liberal Member for Parliament for Hartlepool in 1914. he had the unusual experience of being introduced to the House of Commons l>v his son, who was then President of the Board of Agriculture. Ho retained the seat till 1918.

In November. 1926. he resigned the chairmanship of the Northern Liberal Federation, because he did not think the Liberal Part'- was sufficiently independent. Tn 1931 he made up to -£7S,COD his priginal gift of £50,000 to a nurses’ home at Newcastle. He was raised to the peerage as Baron Runciman of Shoreston in January,