Samuel Brittan facts for kids

Sir Samuel Brittan (born December 29, 1933 – died October 12, 2020) was a famous English journalist and writer. He was known for writing about economics, which is the study of how money, industries, and jobs work in a country. Samuel Brittan was the very first economics writer for the Financial Times newspaper. He also wrote columns for them for a long time. He was part of a group that advised the Global Warming Policy Foundation.

His Early Life

Samuel Brittan was born in London, England. His mother was Rebecca Lipetz and his father was Joseph Brittan, who was a doctor. His parents were Lithuanian Jews who moved to Britain before World War II.

Samuel had a younger brother named Leon Brittan. Leon later became a very important government official. He was the Home Secretary when Margaret Thatcher was the Prime Minister. Samuel's cousin, Malcolm Rifkind, also held a big job in government. He was the Secretary of State for Scotland during Margaret Thatcher's time too.

His Education

Samuel Brittan went to Kilburn Grammar School in London. This was a state school for boys. After that, he went to Jesus College, Cambridge, a famous university.

At Cambridge, he studied economics. He learned from some very well-known teachers. These included Peter Thomas Bauer, Milton Friedman, and Harry Gordon Johnson. Samuel did very well in his studies and earned a top degree.

His Career as a Journalist

In 1961, Samuel Brittan started working as an economics editor. He worked for The Observer newspaper until 1964. An economics editor writes about how money and businesses affect a country.

In 1965, he became an advisor for the Department of Economic Affairs. This was a government department that helped manage the country's economy. Then, in 1966, he joined the Financial Times newspaper. He became an economic commentator there, sharing his views on money matters.

Important Ideas and Awards

In March 1981, many economists disagreed with Margaret Thatcher's economic plans. They wrote a letter to The Times newspaper about it. Samuel Brittan was one of the few writers who supported the Conservative government's ideas.

From 1985 to 1986, he was part of the Peacock Committee. This group looked at how the BBC was funded. In 1985, he received an honorary degree from Heriot-Watt University. This is a special award given by a university.

Samuel Brittan won several important awards for his writing. These included the Orwell Prize, the Senior Harold Wincott Prize, and the Ludwig Erhard Prize. In 1993, he was made a knight. This meant he was called 'Sir Samuel Brittan' for his great work in economic journalism.

He also received another honorary degree in 1994. This one was from the University of Essex. Samuel Brittan believed in the ideas of Henry George. George thought that land should be taxed based on its value. Samuel Brittan always described himself as an "individualist liberal." This means he believed strongly in individual freedom and rights.

Later Life and Legacy

Sir Samuel Brittan passed away on October 12, 2020. He was 86 years old. He left behind a legacy as a respected journalist and thinker. His writings helped many people understand complex economic ideas.