Michael Davie
Encyclopedia
Michael Davie was a British journalist.
Davie was the last of three children born to the head of a firm of stockbrokers. Davie was educated at Haileybury
public school and Merton College, Oxford
. where he began reading English, but after war service in the Royal Navy
, returned to study History. Davie was offered a job as diplomatic correspondent by David Astor
, editor of The Observer
before he graduated, but the post had been filled by the time he had done so.
After a brief period at the Manchester Evening News
, he joined The Observer in 1950 as religious correspondent. Davie subsequently became the newspaper's news editor, sports writer and editor of the colour supplement when it was first published in 1965. Close to Astor, he was appointed deputy editor of the newspaper, a posiyion he retained until 1969. He the returned to writing, still on The Observer staff, where he edited the 'Notebook' feature. Davie was the editor of the diaries of novelist Evelyn Waugh
, the volume appeared in 1976. That year he won the What the Papers Say
'Journalist of the Year' Award.
In 1977 he settled in Melbourne
, Australia, where he became Associate Editor of The Age
, becoming the newspaper's editor in 1979, a post he retained until returning to London and The Observer in 1981 for the remainder of his career. Davie retired in 1988.
Following his retirement, he wrote a biography of the press baron Lord Beaverbrook
with his wife which was published in 1992. His other books include a study of President Lyndon B. Johnson
LBJ (1966); In the Future Now (1972), an account of sun-rise industries in California; The Titanic (1986) and (with his son Simon) The Faber Book of Cricket (1987). His final completed book was Anglo-Australian Attitudes published in 2000.
Michael Davie married twice, his wife from 1975 was the writer and journalist Anne Chisholm. With his first wife (Robin Atherton) he had a son and two daughters, and an adopted son (who predeceased him) with his second.
Davie was the last of three children born to the head of a firm of stockbrokers. Davie was educated at Haileybury
Haileybury and Imperial Service College
Haileybury and Imperial Service College, , is a prestigious British independent school founded in 1862. The school is located at Hertford Heath, near Hertford, from central London, on of parkland occupied until 1858 by the East India College...
public school and Merton College, Oxford
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
. where he began reading English, but after war service in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, returned to study History. Davie was offered a job as diplomatic correspondent by David Astor
David Astor
Francis David Langhorne Astor CH was an English newspaper publisher and member of the Astor family.-Early life and career:...
, editor of 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,...
before he graduated, but the post had been filled by the time he had done so.
After a brief period at the Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
The Manchester Evening News is a regional daily newspaper covering Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom. It is published every day except Sunday and is owned by Trinity Mirror plc following its sale by Guardian Media Group in early 2010. It has an average daily circulation of 90,973 copies...
, he joined The Observer in 1950 as religious correspondent. Davie subsequently became the newspaper's news editor, sports writer and editor of the colour supplement when it was first published in 1965. Close to Astor, he was appointed deputy editor of the newspaper, a posiyion he retained until 1969. He the returned to writing, still on The Observer staff, where he edited the 'Notebook' feature. Davie was the editor of the diaries of novelist Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh , known as Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer of novels, travel books and biographies. He was also a prolific journalist and reviewer...
, the volume appeared in 1976. That year he won the What the Papers Say
What the Papers Say
What The Papers Say is a BBC radio programme that originally ran for many years on British television.Its first incarnation was the second longest-running programme on British television after Panorama...
'Journalist of the Year' Award.
In 1977 he settled in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia, where he became Associate Editor of The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
, becoming the newspaper's editor in 1979, a post he retained until returning to London and The Observer in 1981 for the remainder of his career. Davie retired in 1988.
Following his retirement, he wrote a biography of the press baron Lord Beaverbrook
Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook
William Maxwell "Max" Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook, Bt, PC, was a Canadian-British business tycoon, politician, and writer.-Early career in Canada:...
with his wife which was published in 1992. His other books include a study of President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
LBJ (1966); In the Future Now (1972), an account of sun-rise industries in California; The Titanic (1986) and (with his son Simon) The Faber Book of Cricket (1987). His final completed book was Anglo-Australian Attitudes published in 2000.
Michael Davie married twice, his wife from 1975 was the writer and journalist Anne Chisholm. With his first wife (Robin Atherton) he had a son and two daughters, and an adopted son (who predeceased him) with his second.