John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith (1889-1971), Administrator; first Director-General of the BBC
Sitter in 42 portraits
Founding director general of the BBC from 1922 to 1938. His book, Broadcast over Britain (1924) outlined four principles of his vision for a broadcasting system: it operated as a public service rather than for commercial motives; it offered national coverage; it depended on centralised control; and it offered high standards of programming. He also insisted on BBC operational independence from political pressures. Under Reith's leadership, the BBC established its headquarters at Broadcasting House in 1932. Until his departure in 1938, Reith steadily broadened the range of its activities. Subsequently he headed BOAC and held a number of minor cabinet posts in wartime and post-war governments.
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by Sir David Low
pencil, 1933 or before
NPG 4529(294)
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by Sir David Low
pencil, 1933 or before
NPG 4529(295)
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by Sir David Low
pencil, 1933 or before
NPG 4529(296)
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by Sir David Low
pencil, 1933 or before
NPG 4529(297)
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by Sir David Low
chalk, published 1933
NPG 4566
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by Sir William Rothenstein
sanguine and white chalk, published 1937
NPG 4648
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by (Mary) Olive Edis (Mrs Galsworthy)
whole-plate autochrome, 1925
NPG x7201
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by (Mary) Olive Edis (Mrs Galsworthy)
platinum print, 1925
NPG x12799
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by (Mary) Olive Edis (Mrs Galsworthy)
bromide print, 1925
NPG x12800
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1934
NPG x46071
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1934
NPG x46074
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1934
NPG x46078
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 1962
NPG x167144
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1934
NPG x159867
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1934
NPG x46073
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1934
NPG x46075
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1934
NPG x46076
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1934
NPG x46079
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1934
NPG x46080
John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1934
NPG x46081
Politics, Government and Diplomacy
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