MR H. A. L. FISHER’S DEATH

Southland Times, Issue 24106, 20 April 1940, Page 10

MR H. A. L. FISHER’S DEATH

HISTORIAN AND STATESMAN Mr Herbert Albert Laurence Fisher, historian and statesman, whose death in England was announced this week, was born in London in March 1865. He was educated at Winchester and New College, Oxford, and in 1888 was elected to a Fellowship there. After studying in Paris and Gottingen he returned to New College as history tutor. In 1908 he delivered the South African lectures and in 1909 the Lowell lectures at Boston. He was made Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield University in 1912. His political activities began with, his appointment to the Royal Commission on the public services in India (1912-15) and in 1915 he became a member of the Government committee on German outrages. When Mr Lloyd George formed his Coalition Government in 1916, Mr Fisher was made Minister of Education and was elected Liberal M.P. for the Hallam Division, a seat he exchanged in 1918 for the representation of the Combined English Universities. His great achievement was the excellent Education Bill which he introduced in 1917. Its chief features were the removal of the limit of 2d on the rata which could be raised for education by local authorities; establishment of nursery schools; imposition of additional restrictions on employment of children of school age; greater facilities for physical training, and the establishment of continuation schools for young people up to 18. Later he spoke well for his party on foreign affairs. From 1920 to 1922 he was a delegate to the League Assembly. In 1925 Mr Fisher accepted the post of Warden of New College, Oxford, on the understanding that he would sever his connection with Parliament. This he did in February 1926, and at a luncheon given in his honour at the House of Commons Mr Lloyd George described Mr Fisher’s Education Act as one of the great measures of all time. At Oxford he found time to do much public work both in connection with education and in safeguarding national amenities. Along with Sir Michael Sadler he was the inspirer of the Oxford Preservation Trust. In 1935 he became one of the governors of the 8.8. C. He was awarded the Order of Merit in February 1937. From 1926 to 1932 he was president of the British Academy to which he had been elected in 1907. Mr Fisher was a notable historian. His books include “The Mediaeval Empire,” “A Political History of England,” “The Republican Tradition in Europe,” “Napoleon Bonaparte,” “Bonapartism,” “A History of Europe” and “The Common Weal.”