On This Day

17 November 1927

Death of Charles Frederick Gurney Masterman, journalist and politician

Masterman served as Liberal MP for West Ham North 1906-11, Bethnal Green South West 1911-14 and Manchester Rusholme 1923-24. A keen social reformer Masterman’s writings including From the Abyss and The Condition of England influenced New Liberal thinking. In parliament Masterman was a key supporter of Lloyd George, helping to draft the 1909 ‘people’s’ budget and piloting the 1911 National Insurance Act through the Commons. Appointed to the cabinet as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in 1914 Masterman lost the ensuing by-election and a second forcing his resignation. Out of parliament Masterman headed the British War Propaganda Bureau from 1915. After the war there was a return to journalism and a brief return to parliament but his health declined and he died aged only 54.