In light of the recent rumours regarding the possible demise of The Observer newspaper, I put together this brief history of the publication. The main sources were The Guardian’s “History of the Observer“, an article from The Guardian’s ad info page “A brief history of the Observer” and a Guardian piece called the “Observer timeline“.
1791
The Observer’s first issue was published on December 4th, 1791. Founded by WS Bourne, he believed that “the establishment of a Sunday newspaper would obtain him a rapid fortune”, but ended up putting him into debt only three years later. He eventually failed in an attempt to sell the title to the Government.
The first edition solicited “Advertisements and Articles of Intelligence” for future issues, and featured news regarding the manufacturer of axle-trees for carraiges and a newly patented “washing machine” alongside advertisements for a local Grocer and various remedies for corns, fits, gout, rheumatism and scurvy.
1814
The newspaper was bought by newspaper magnate William Innell Clement, who ignored the Lord Chief Justice’s reporting restrictions on the trial of the Cato Street Conspirators. Clement refused to attend the court case against him, helping to establish the principle of freedom of the press.
1861
During the American Civil from 1861-1865, the paper sided with the North, prompting a fall in readership.
1891
As the new Editor of the paper, Rachel Beer published findings that Count Esterhazy had used forged letters to condemn Captain Dreyfus to Devil’s Island.
1905
The Observer was bought by Lord Northcliffe. Northcliffe later appointed a harrowing and prophetic editorial on the Treaty of Versailles, saying that the Treaty “left the Germans no real hope except in revenge’”. After the German occupation of Czechoslovakia, Garvin used the paper as an outlet for his fervent anti-Nazi views.
1948
David Astor joined the Observer as Editor, aged 29 and after only a year’s experience working on the Yorkshire Post. Before he became editor, he removed the paper’s political allegiances through the vesting of its ownership in a trust, and is widely regarded as responsible for the paper’s distinctive liberal voice. He also brought on many of the newspaper’s most famous alumni, including George Orwell, Vita Sackville-West, Arthur Koestler, Philip Toynbee, Jon Davy and Kenneth Tynan.
1956
The paper became the first major national newspaper to openly oppose the Government’s action over the Suez Canal, publishing an editorial on November 4th 1965 that declared “We had not realised that our Government was capable of such folly and such crookedness”.
1963
Kim Philby, Middle East Correspondent for the Observer, defected to the Soviet Union.
1964
The newspaper was known for speaking out often against apartheid, notably publishing articles covering Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment in 1964. Editor David Astor personally sent Mandela legal books to read during his incarceration.
1987
The newspaper published a one-off mid week edition to publicise the Department of Trade and Industry report into Mohamed Al Fayed’s conduct in his battle for control of the department store Harrods.
1993
GMG acquired the newspaper after competition from The Independent, who wanted to merge the paper with The Independent on Sunday. The paper’s potential closure prompted 132 MPs to sign an early day motion supporting its continuance as an independent newspaper. The Primary Sponsor David Winnick wrote that the undersigned “recognises the importance of The Observer continuing as a separate newspaper and would be opposed to it being sold to a newspaper group which already has a Sunday paper; and therefore believes the best course available in the public interest and to provide a diversity of views within the Press is for the paper to be sold to The Guardian, which does not currently have a Sunday paper.”
1999
Published a transcript of a secretly filmed conversation with Kevin Reid, son of the Scottish Minister at the time, John Reid. Kevin Reid told an Observer reporter posing as a businessman that Beattie Media, the PR firm he worked for, was able to give privileged access to ministers.
2003
Under the editorship of Roger Alton, the Observer controversially put its support behind the invasion of Iraq.
2008
The Observer moved from its old separate office in Herbal Hill, Farringdon, to share the Guardian’s new office in King’s Cross.
An Advertising Standards Authority “complaints manager” sent me this email the other day: “Since my last email I have spoken to Zoe Griffin’s agent. He has given his assurance that any future reference to Voltz on the website will make clear it is an advertisement.”
