Archibald Chisholm facts for kids

Archibald Hugh Tennent Chisholm (born August 17, 1902 – died November 22, 1992) was an important British person. He worked with oil companies and was also a journalist. He was even the editor of a famous newspaper called The Financial Times.

Growing Up

Archibald Chisholm was born in 1902. His father, Hugh Chisholm, was also a well-known editor. He worked on the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica and for The Times newspaper.

Archibald went to Westminster School. After that, he studied at Christ Church, Oxford University. While at Oxford, he played football. He also said he played tennis with the famous player Helen Wills-Moody. Chisholm was a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) too.

Working with Oil

Chisholm started working for the Anglo-Persian Oil Company in 1928. This company later became British Petroleum (BP).

In 1934, the Kuwait Oil Company was created. Chisholm helped sign the first agreement with the Kuwaiti ruler, Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. He represented the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. Another person, Frank Holmes, represented the Gulf Oil Corporation. They worked together to get this important agreement.

Chisholm later left the Anglo-Persian Oil Company in 1936. In 1975, he wrote a book about the start of the oil industry in Kuwait. It was called The First Kuwait Oil Concession Agreement.

After the Second World War, Chisholm returned to the oil business. He was part of a group that went to the International Court of Justice. They argued for British Petroleum (BP) after Iran took control of its own oil industry in 1951. He stayed with BP until 1962. Then he worked as an adviser for the company until 1972.

Journalism and War Service

Chisholm started his journalism career after finishing university. He worked for two years as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal. He reported from London and New York.

After working in the oil industry, Chisholm went back to journalism. He became a main writer for The Financial Times. In 1937, he became the editor of the newspaper. He held this important job until 1940. During his time as editor, he helped create a new section. It was called "Men and Matters" and shared financial news and gossip from the City of London.

In 1940, Chisholm joined the British Army during the Second World War. He worked in intelligence in the Middle East. By the end of the war, he had become a Colonel. He was also mentioned twice for his brave actions. He became friends with the writer Alec Waugh during the war. They often ate together at the MCC later in life.

Chisholm received an important award, the CBE, in 1946 for his military service.

Chisholm married Josephine Goudge in October 1939. They had a daughter and a son. Josephine passed away in 1983. Chisholm moved to Hampstead in 1947. The Times newspaper wrote about him after he died. They said he was "Tall, distinguished, scholarly [and] urbane." They also said he loved to entertain friends at The Savoy Grill. Each meal there would start with pink champagne.

Selected Publications

• The First Kuwait Oil Concession Agreement: A Record of the Negotiations 1911-1934