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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 British Overseas Airways Corporation and held a number of minor cabinet posts in wartime and post-war governments.

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John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith, by Sir David Low - NPG 4529(294)

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 - NPG 4529(295)

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 - NPG 4529(296)

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 - NPG 4529(297)

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Sir David Low
pencil, 1933 or before
NPG 4529(297)

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1934
NPG x159867

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1934
NPG x46073

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1934
NPG x46075

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1934
NPG x46076

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1934
NPG x46079

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1934
NPG x46080

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1934
NPG x46081

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1934
NPG x46083

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
10 x 8 inch film negative, 1934
NPG x46091

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
10 x 8 inch film negative, 1934
NPG x46092

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
10 x 8 inch film negative, 1934
NPG x46093

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
10 x 8 inch film negative, 1934
NPG x46094

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
10 x 8 inch film negative, 1934
NPG x46095

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1938
NPG x46072

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1938
NPG x46077

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1938
NPG x46082

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1938
NPG x46084

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1938
NPG x46085

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1938
NPG x46086

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1938
NPG x46087

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1938
NPG x46088

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1938
NPG x46089

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1938
NPG x46090

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Walter Stoneman
negative, July 1941
NPG x508

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 14 November 1946
NPG x159868

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass negative, 14 November 1946
NPG x188373

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass negative, 14 November 1946
NPG x188374

Web image not currently available

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith

by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass negative, 14 November 1946
NPG x188375

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