John Fulton, Baron Fulton
Encyclopedia
John Scott Fulton, Baron Fulton (27 May 1902 – 14 March 1986) was a British
university administrator and public servant. In education, he served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wales
and of the University of Sussex
, and was chair of the Universities Central Council on Admissions
between 1961 and 1964. He also became a Governor of the BBC
, serving as Vice-Chairman, led the Committee on the Civil Service which reported in 1968, and was chairman of the British Council
from 1968 to 1971.
in 1902 and attended the High School of Dundee
. He then studied at the University of St Andrews
, and at Balliol College, Oxford
, where he read classical honour moderations (1924) and literae humaniores (1926). He became a lecturer at the London School of Economics
in the same year, before returning to Balliol College in 1928 as a fellow and tutor in philosophy. His title was changed to 'politics' in 1935 and he remained there until 1947, with a period in the Mines Department and in the Ministry of Fuel and Power during World War II
. During this time he became a friend and colleague of Harold Wilson
.
between 1952 and 1954, and between 1958 and 1959. Between 1952 and 1955, he was chairman of the Universities' Council for Adult Education and the council of the National Institute of Adult Education.
In 1959, he was appointed principal of the University College of Sussex, the first of several new universities termed 'plate glass universities
', which became the University of Sussex
(and Fulton Vice-Chancellor) when students started in 1961. He left in 1967, and during that time he also played a large part in the formation of the Universities Central Council on Admissions
, serving as chairman between 1961 and 1964. He was a member of the Planning Committee of the Open University
from 1967 to 1970.
He became involved in university policy making overseas, including in Malta, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Hong Kong, and in 1962, Fulton chaired the committee that established the new Chinese University of Hong Kong
. He also served as chairman of the Inter-University Council for Higher Education Overseas from 1964 until 1968.
and ITA
committees on adult education. He served as a BBC governor
from 1966 to 1971, serving twice as Vice-Chairman (1966–1967 and 1968–1971).
Wilson invited him to chair the Committee on the Civil Service in 1964. Reporting in 1968, it found that administrators were not professional enough, and in particular lacked management skills, and included the creation of a Civil Service College as one of its 158 recommendations.
In 1968, Fulton's international work continued as he became chairman of the British Council
, serving until 1971.
Fulton became a Knight Bachelor
in 1964, and became a life peer
on 19 January 1966 as Baron Fulton, of Falmer
in the County of
Sussex
.
, and his wife, Annie Scott. He married Jacqueline Wilkinson in 1939 and they had three sons and one daughter.
He died at home in Thornton-le-Dale
in North Yorkshire
on 14 March 1986.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
university administrator and public servant. In education, he served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
and of the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
, and was chair of the Universities Central Council on Admissions
Universities Central Council on Admissions
UCCA, the Universities Central Council on Admissions, provided a central clearing house for university applications in the United Kingdom from its formation in 1961 until its merger with PCAS to form UCAS in 1993....
between 1961 and 1964. He also became a Governor of the BBC
Board of Governors of the BBC
The Board of Governors of the BBC was the governing body of the British Broadcasting Corporation. It consisted of twelve people who together regulated the BBC and represented the interests of the public. It existed from 1927 until it was replaced by the BBC Trust on 1 January 2007.The governors...
, serving as Vice-Chairman, led the Committee on the Civil Service which reported in 1968, and was chairman of the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
from 1968 to 1971.
Early life and career
Fulton was born in DundeeDundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
in 1902 and attended the High School of Dundee
High School of Dundee
The High School of Dundee is an independent, co-educational, day school in the city of Dundee, Scotland which provides both primary and secondary education to just over one thousand pupils...
. He then studied at the University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
, and at Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, where he read classical honour moderations (1924) and literae humaniores (1926). He became a lecturer at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
in the same year, before returning to Balliol College in 1928 as a fellow and tutor in philosophy. His title was changed to 'politics' in 1935 and he remained there until 1947, with a period in the Mines Department and in the Ministry of Fuel and Power during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. During this time he became a friend and colleague of Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
.
University administrator
Between 1947 and 1959, Fulton was principal of University College, Swansea, serving as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of WalesUniversity of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
between 1952 and 1954, and between 1958 and 1959. Between 1952 and 1955, he was chairman of the Universities' Council for Adult Education and the council of the National Institute of Adult Education.
In 1959, he was appointed principal of the University College of Sussex, the first of several new universities termed 'plate glass universities
Plate glass university
The term plate glass university has come into use by some to refer to one of the several universities founded in the United Kingdom in the 1960s in the era of the Robbins Report on higher education. In some cases these were older schools with new Royal Charters, now making them universities...
', which became the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
(and Fulton Vice-Chancellor) when students started in 1961. He left in 1967, and during that time he also played a large part in the formation of the Universities Central Council on Admissions
Universities Central Council on Admissions
UCCA, the Universities Central Council on Admissions, provided a central clearing house for university applications in the United Kingdom from its formation in 1961 until its merger with PCAS to form UCAS in 1993....
, serving as chairman between 1961 and 1964. He was a member of the Planning Committee of the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
from 1967 to 1970.
He became involved in university policy making overseas, including in Malta, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Hong Kong, and in 1962, Fulton chaired the committee that established the new Chinese University of Hong Kong
Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a research-led university in Hong Kong.CUHK is the only tertiary education institution in Hong Kong with Nobel Prize winners on its faculty, including Chen Ning Yang, James Mirrlees, Robert Alexander Mundell and Charles K. Kao...
. He also served as chairman of the Inter-University Council for Higher Education Overseas from 1964 until 1968.
Public service
From 1962 to 1965, Fulton was chairman of both the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and ITA
Independent Television Authority
The Independent Television Authority was an agency created by the Television Act 1954 to supervise the creation of "Independent Television" , the first commercial television network in the United Kingdom...
committees on adult education. He served as a BBC governor
Board of Governors of the BBC
The Board of Governors of the BBC was the governing body of the British Broadcasting Corporation. It consisted of twelve people who together regulated the BBC and represented the interests of the public. It existed from 1927 until it was replaced by the BBC Trust on 1 January 2007.The governors...
from 1966 to 1971, serving twice as Vice-Chairman (1966–1967 and 1968–1971).
Wilson invited him to chair the Committee on the Civil Service in 1964. Reporting in 1968, it found that administrators were not professional enough, and in particular lacked management skills, and included the creation of a Civil Service College as one of its 158 recommendations.
In 1968, Fulton's international work continued as he became chairman of the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
, serving until 1971.
Fulton became a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1964, and became a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
on 19 January 1966 as Baron Fulton, of Falmer
Falmer
Falmer is a small village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England, lying between Brighton and Lewes, approximately five miles north-east of the former. It is also the site for Brighton & Hove Albion's new stadium....
in the County of
Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
.
Personal life
Fulton's parents were Angus Robertson Fulton, who was principal of University College, DundeeUniversity of Dundee
The University of Dundee is a university based in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee on eastern coast of the central Lowlands of Scotland and with a small number of institutions elsewhere....
, and his wife, Annie Scott. He married Jacqueline Wilkinson in 1939 and they had three sons and one daughter.
He died at home in Thornton-le-Dale
Thornton-le-Dale
Thornton-le-Dale is a village and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England, about two miles east of Pickering. A thatched cottage in the village has appeared on countless calendars and chocolate boxes over the years...
in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
on 14 March 1986.