Brian Batsford
Encyclopedia
Sir Brian Caldwell Cook Batsford (18 December 1910 – 5 March 1991) was a British painter, designer, publisher and Conservative Party
politician. Born in Gerrards Cross
, Buckinghamshire as Brian Caldwell Cook, he adopted his mother's maiden name in 1946.
In 1928 he began working for the production department of the publishing firm of B.T. Batsford, of which his uncle, Harry Batsford, was chairman. Following his uncle's death, he became chairman of Batsford, from 1952 until 1974.
He was elected as Member of Parliament
for Ealing South
at a by-election
on 12 June 1958. He held the seat until it was abolished for the February 1974 general election
, and did not stand for Parliament
again. As Flight Lieutenant Brian Cook he had failed to defend the Conservative seat of Chelmsford
at a by-election
in April 1945 which was won by Ernest Millington for the short-lived Common Wealth Party
. He was knighted in 1974.
He is perhaps better known as Brian Cook, the illustrator/designer of the dust jacket
s of the highly-collectable Batsford books from the 1930s to the 1950s. The distinctive vibrant colours of the jackets were achieved by the Jean Berté process, which used rubber plates and water-based inks.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician. Born in Gerrards Cross
Gerrards Cross
Gerrards Cross is a village in Buckinghamshire, England. It is in the south of the county, near the border with Greater London, south of Chalfont St Peter. Gerrards Cross is also a civil parish within South Bucks district, which was known as the Beaconsfield district from 1974 to 1980...
, Buckinghamshire as Brian Caldwell Cook, he adopted his mother's maiden name in 1946.
In 1928 he began working for the production department of the publishing firm of B.T. Batsford, of which his uncle, Harry Batsford, was chairman. Following his uncle's death, he became chairman of Batsford, from 1952 until 1974.
He was elected as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Ealing South
Ealing South (UK Parliament constituency)
Ealing South was a parliamentary constituency in what was then the Municipal Borough of Ealing in west London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system....
at a by-election
Ealing South by-election, 1958
The Ealing South by-election of 12 June 1958 was held after the resingnation of Conservative Party MP Angus Maude:The seat was safe for the Conservatives, having been won at the United Kingdom general election, 1955 by over 12,000 votes...
on 12 June 1958. He held the seat until it was abolished for the February 1974 general election
United Kingdom general election, February 1974
The United Kingdom's general election of February 1974 was held on the 28th of that month. It was the first of two United Kingdom general elections held that year, and the first election since the Second World War not to produce an overall majority in the House of Commons for the winning party,...
, and did not stand for Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
again. As Flight Lieutenant Brian Cook he had failed to defend the Conservative seat of Chelmsford
Chelmsford (UK Parliament constituency)
Chelmsford is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. From the 2010 general election it has elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
at a by-election
Chelmsford by-election, 1945
The Chelmsford by-election, 1945 was a by-election held on 26 April 1945 for the British House of Commons constituency of Chelmsford in Essex. The seat was won by Ernest Millington for the short-lived Common Wealth Party....
in April 1945 which was won by Ernest Millington for the short-lived Common Wealth Party
Common Wealth Party
The Common Wealth Party was a socialist political party in the United Kingdom in the Second World War. Thereafter, it continued in being, essentially as a pressure group, until 1993.-The war years:...
. He was knighted in 1974.
He is perhaps better known as Brian Cook, the illustrator/designer of the dust jacket
Dust jacket
The dust jacket of a book is the detachable outer cover, usually made of paper and printed with text and illustrations. This outer cover has folded flaps that hold it to the front and back book covers...
s of the highly-collectable Batsford books from the 1930s to the 1950s. The distinctive vibrant colours of the jackets were achieved by the Jean Berté process, which used rubber plates and water-based inks.
Selected bibliography
- The Britain of Brian Cook. London: Batsford, 1987. ISBN 9780713457001