Walter Runciman, 1st Baron Runciman (6 July 1847 – 13 August 1937) was an English shipping magnate.
1847 Born in Dunbar, Scotland, son of Walter Runciman, a coast guard[1]
His grandson, Steven, referred to him as "a Geordie of Scots descent who ran away to sea at 11, was a master mariner by 21 and founded a shipping line". Runciman later wrote several books based on his years at sea.
1889, Runciman founded the South Shields Steam Shipping Co, 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.
1892 the company offices moved up the River Tyne to the city-port of Newcastle.
In April 1897 the company changed its name to the Moor Line. 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.
1906 Runciman was created a baronet in 1906
1910 he wrote "The Tragedy of St. Helena", an account of Napoleon Bonaparte's exile and death.
1911 Sir Walter Runciman (baronet) 63, shipowner, etc, lived in Newcastle with Ann Margaret Runciman 63, Right Hon. Walter Runciman 40, President of the Board of Education, and his niece Alexandrina Dick Runciman 29[2]
1914-18 served as Liberal MP for Hartlepool.
1926 Elected president of the Chamber of Shipping
1933 He was raised to the peerage as Baron Runciman of Shoreston.
1937 Died
1937 His son, Walter Runciman (1870–1949), a long-serving MP, followed him into the House of Lords with the title Walter Runciman, 1st Viscount Runciman of Doxford