Tawney, Richard Henry (1880–1962)

Richard Henry Tawney was born in Calcutta, India, and died in London. Educated at Balliol College, Oxford, he held academic appointments at Glasgow, Oxford, and the London School of Economics. He was a founder of the Workers Education Association, an educational venture providing university-level courses for workers that eventually became an extension college within Oxford.

A prominent socialist, Tawney was a prolific writer with numerous books, pamphlets, and newspaper articles to his name. As a member of the British Labour Party, he served on major public commissions and committees that addressed policy issues in labor and education. Trips to China in the early 1930s and the United States in 1941–1942 brought him into contact with laborers in a very social context and resulted in articles and ...