After David Lloyd George became Prime Minister in December 1916, Harmsworth was a member of the Prime Minister's Secretariat between 1917 and 1919 and Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs between 1919 and 1922 in Lloyd George's coalition government. He also served briefly as Acting Minister of Blockade in 1919.[1] In 1939 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Harmsworth, of Egham in the County of Surrey.[6] He became a regular contributor in the House of Lords, making his last speech in June 1945.[7]
Apart from his political career Harmsworth was a director of Amalgamated Press and chairman of Associated Newspapers, founded by his brother Lord Northcliffe. He published Pleasure and Problem in South Africa (1908), Immortals at First Hand (1933) and A Little Fishing Book (1942).[1]
Harmsworth purchased Dr Johnson's House and restored it into a museum open to the public. He also was an active member of the Sylvan Debating Club, which was founded by his father, and served as its treasurer.
His diaries include social meetings with influential people including suffragists like Agnes Harben and her husband.[8]
Family
Lord Harmsworth married his cousin Emilie Alberta, daughter of William Hamilton Maffett, in 1897. His wife was born in 1873 and died in 1942. Lord Harmsworth survived her by six years and died in August 1948, aged 78. He was succeeded in the barony by his eldest surviving son, Cecil.[1]
Arms
Coat of arms of Cecil Harmsworth, 1st Baron Harmsworth
Crest
A cubit arm erect the hand holding a roll of paper fesswise Proper between two ostrich feathers Or.
Escutcheon
Azure two rolls of paper in saltire Or banded in the centre Gules between two bees volant in pale and as many trefoils in fess of the second.