Reith, John Charles Walsham, 1st Baron (1889-1971)

Scottish broadcasting pioneer, the first general manager 1922-27 and director general 1927-38 of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). He was enormously influential in the early development of the BBC and established its high-minded principles of public-service broadcasting. He held several ministerial posts in government during World War II, including minister of information in 1940, transport in 1940, and minister of works 1940-42.

Reith was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He was chair of the Colonial Development Corporation 1950-1959. His publications include Into the Wind (1949).