Robert Laurie Morant
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Laurie Morant (7 April 1863–13 March 1920) was an English
administrator
and educationalist
He was educated at Winchester College
and New College, Oxford
.
After a year teaching at a Preparatory School
, he was appointed as tutor to the crown prince of Siam. On his return, he worked at the Toynbee Hall
settlement in the East End of London. In 1896 he married Helen Mary Cracknell.
He then joined a research unit reporting to the Privy Council
on Education and thence to the Board of Education
, where he rose rapidly to become its Permanent Secretary
in April 1903. He was responsible for some of the new ideas in the Education Act 1902
and ensured the Board effectively implemented it.
He then accepted a post chairing the Commission to implement the National Insurance Act 1911
. This included a huge and wide-ranging task of administration and even included the foundation of the precursor of the Medical Research Council
. Morant promoted and largely drafted National Insurance Act 1913, correcting problems in the previous Act.
He served on the Haldane committee
on the Machinery of government
, 1917–18.
When the Ministry of Health in 1919 was created in he became its Permanent Secretary.
He died of influenza
on 13 March 1920.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
administrator
Academic administration
An academic administration is a branch of university or college employees responsible for the maintenance and supervision of the institution and separate from the faculty or academics, although some personnel may have joint responsibilities...
and educationalist
He was educated at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
.
After a year teaching at a Preparatory School
Preparatory school (UK)
In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
, he was appointed as tutor to the crown prince of Siam. On his return, he worked at the Toynbee Hall
Toynbee Hall
Toynbee Hall is a building in Tower Hamlets, East London which is the home of a charity working to bridge the gap between people of all social and financial backgrounds, with a focus on eradicating poverty and promoting social inclusion....
settlement in the East End of London. In 1896 he married Helen Mary Cracknell.
He then joined a research unit reporting to the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
on Education and thence to the Board of Education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
, where he rose rapidly to become its Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
in April 1903. He was responsible for some of the new ideas in the Education Act 1902
Education Act 1902
The Education Act 1902 , also known as Balfour's Act, is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom affecting education in England and Wales. At the time of passage of the Act, the Conservative Party was in power...
and ensured the Board effectively implemented it.
He then accepted a post chairing the Commission to implement the National Insurance Act 1911
National Insurance Act 1911
The National Insurance Act 1911 is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Act is often regarded as one of the foundations of modern social welfare in the United Kingdom and forms part of the wider social welfare reforms of the Liberal Government of 1906-1914...
. This included a huge and wide-ranging task of administration and even included the foundation of the precursor of the Medical Research Council
Medical Research Council (UK)
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
. Morant promoted and largely drafted National Insurance Act 1913, correcting problems in the previous Act.
He served on the Haldane committee
Richard Haldane, 1st Viscount Haldane
Richard Burdon Haldane, 1st Viscount Haldane KT, OM, PC, KC, FRS, FBA, FSA , was an influential British Liberal Imperialist and later Labour politician, lawyer and philosopher. He was Secretary of State for War between 1905 and 1912 during which time the "Haldane Reforms" were implemented...
on the Machinery of government
Machinery of government
The Machinery of Government means the interconnected structures and processes of government, such as the functions and accountability of departments in the executive branch of government...
, 1917–18.
When the Ministry of Health in 1919 was created in he became its Permanent Secretary.
He died of influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
on 13 March 1920.