Edward Dicey
Encyclopedia
Edward James Stephen Dicey (15 May 1832 – 7 July 1911) was an English writer, journalist, and editor.
Born at Claybrook Hall, Leicestershire, Dicey was the son of Thomas Edward Dicey, owner of the Northampton Mercury, and Anne Mary, née Stephen. He was the brother of Albert Venn Dicey
.
He spent two years at King's College, London before attending Trinity College, Cambridge
; during his time there he was President of the Cambridge Union
during Michaelmas term 1853, and took mathematical and classical honours. After a brief but unsuccessful period as a businessman, he gravitated towards writing and became an active journalist
, specializing in foreign affairs. Starting in 1860 he was a regular contributor to The Spectator
, and in 1862 he became a member of the staff of the Daily Telegraph. During the 1860s he traveled extensively throughout Europe, and he journeyed to the United States and the Near East; these experiences were not only the source of his reporting, but served as the basis of a number of books as well.
After three months in 1870 as editor of the Daily News
, Dicey was named editor of the Sunday weekly The Observer
. He served as the editor of The Observer for nearly two decades, giving the newspaper a scholarly tone but doing little to boost its small circulation. He maintained his interest in international affairs and continued his travels abroad, particularly to Eastern Europe
and Egypt
. A Liberal
from his early years, he broke with the party over the issue of Home Rule in the mid-1880s and became a Liberal Unionist
. He was created CB
in 1886.
After leaving the editorship of The Observer in 1889, Dicey continued contributing occasional pieces to the newspaper, as well as to other publications. The brother of noted jurist
A. V. Dicey
, he was called to the bar
himself in 1875, and became a bencher of Gray's Inn
in 1896, serving as its treasurer from 1903 until 1904. Dicey died at Gray's Inn
, London
in 1911 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery
, London.
Born at Claybrook Hall, Leicestershire, Dicey was the son of Thomas Edward Dicey, owner of the Northampton Mercury, and Anne Mary, née Stephen. He was the brother of Albert Venn Dicey
A. V. Dicey
- References :...
.
He spent two years at King's College, London before attending Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
; during his time there he was President of the Cambridge Union
Cambridge Union Society
The Cambridge Union Society, commonly referred to as simply "the Cambridge Union" or "the Union," is a debating society in Cambridge, England and is the largest society at the University of Cambridge. Since its founding in 1815, the Union has developed a worldwide reputation as a noted symbol of...
during Michaelmas term 1853, and took mathematical and classical honours. After a brief but unsuccessful period as a businessman, he gravitated towards writing and became an active journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, specializing in foreign affairs. Starting in 1860 he was a regular contributor to The Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
, and in 1862 he became a member of the staff of the Daily Telegraph. During the 1860s he traveled extensively throughout Europe, and he journeyed to the United States and the Near East; these experiences were not only the source of his reporting, but served as the basis of a number of books as well.
After three months in 1870 as editor of the Daily News
Daily News (UK)
The Daily News was a national daily newspaper in the United Kingdom.The News was founded in 1846 by Charles Dickens, who also served as the newspaper's first editor. It was conceived as a radical rival to the right-wing Morning Chronicle. The paper was not at first a commercial success...
, Dicey was named editor of the Sunday weekly The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
. He served as the editor of The Observer for nearly two decades, giving the newspaper a scholarly tone but doing little to boost its small circulation. He maintained his interest in international affairs and continued his travels abroad, particularly to Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. A Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
from his early years, he broke with the party over the issue of Home Rule in the mid-1880s and became a Liberal Unionist
Liberal Unionist Party
The Liberal Unionist Party was a British political party that was formed in 1886 by a faction that broke away from the Liberal Party. Led by Lord Hartington and Joseph Chamberlain, the party formed a political alliance with the Conservative Party in opposition to Irish Home Rule...
. He was created CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 1886.
After leaving the editorship of The Observer in 1889, Dicey continued contributing occasional pieces to the newspaper, as well as to other publications. The brother of noted jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
A. V. Dicey
A. V. Dicey
- References :...
, he was called to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
himself in 1875, and became a bencher of Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1896, serving as its treasurer from 1903 until 1904. Dicey died at Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1911 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery is located near Earl's Court in South West London, England . It is managed by The Royal Parks and is one of the Magnificent Seven...
, London.
Works
- Rome in 1860 (1861)
- Cavour: A Memoir (1861)
- Six Months in the Federal States (1863)
- The Schleswig-Holstein War (1864)
- The Battle-Fields of 1866 (1866)
- A Month in Russia during the Marriage of the Czarevitch (1867)
- The Morning Land, being Sketches of Turkey, the Holy Land, and Egypt (1870)
- England and Egypt (1881)
- Victor Emmanuel (1882)
- Bulgaria, the Peasant State (1894)
- The Story of the Khedivate (1902)
- The Egypt of the Future (1907).