Walter Runciman, 1st Baron Runciman (6 July 1847 – 13 August 1937) was an
English shipping magnate. Referred to by his grandson
Steven as "a
Geordie of Scots descent who ran away to sea at 11, was a master mariner by 21 and founded a shipping line",[1] Runciman wrote several books based on his years at sea. He also served briefly as a
Liberal Member of Parliament.
In 1889, Runciman founded the
South Shields Shipping Company, based in the port of
South Shields, on the south bank at the mouth of the
River Tyne, which was then part of
County Durham but now in
Tyne and Wear. Walter Runciman was
Managing Director and Secretary, and John Elliott was the chairman. In 1892 the company offices moved up the River Tyne to the city-port of
Newcastle. In April 1897 the company changed its name to
Moor Line Ltd. Runciman and his son, who had carried on business as partners in Runciman and Co, were appointed Managing Directors of Moor Line. Elliott died in 1898 and the elder Runciman held the position of Chairman until his death in 1937.
Runciman was created a
baronet in 1906, and served as Liberal MP for
Hartlepool from 1914 to 1918. In 1910 he wrote "The Tragedy of St. Helena", an account of Napoleon Bonaparte's exile and death. In 1933, he was raised to the peerage as Baron Runciman of Shoreston. Four years later his son, the long-serving MP
Walter Runciman (1870–1949), followed him into the
House of Lords with the title
Walter Runciman, 1st Viscount Runciman of Doxford.[3]