The Daily Telegraph

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

The Daily Telegraph

Role / Field:

A prominent British daily broadsheet newspaper known for its conservative editorial stance.

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

The Daily Telegraph, also known as The Telegraph, is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was founded by Arthur B. Sleigh in 1855 as The Daily Telegraph and Courier. The Telegraph was headlined by the BBC in 2004 as the UK's "other paper of record" and mentioned in the Broadview Guide to Writing in 2017 as a newspaper of record among others. The paper's motto, "Was, is, and will be", was included in its emblem which was used for over a century starting in 1858. In 2013, The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph, which started in 1961, were merged, although the latter retains its own editor.

Career & Major Achievements

Both papers are politically conservative and support the Conservative Party, although the Daily Telegraph was moderately liberal before the late 1870s. The Telegraph has had a number of news scoops, including an eyewitness account of the outbreak of the Second World War by a novice reporter, Clare Hollingworth, which has been described as "the scoop of the century"; the 2009 parliamentary expenses scandal, which led to a number of high-profile political resignations and for which the paper was named 2009 British Newspaper of the Year; its 2016 undercover investigation of the England football manager Sam Allardyce; and the Lockdown Files in 2023. In May 2025, an investment management firm, RedBird Capital Partners, announced plans to acquire the newspaper's publisher for £500 million (about US$674 million), but the deal collapsed in November 2025. In March 2026, it was announced that the Telegraph Media Group would be acquired for £575 million by the German company Axel Springer SE, which CEO Mathias Döpfner described as a long‑standing goal and stated that The Daily Telegraph's editorial character would be preserved. The acquisition was completed in June 2026.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Daily Telegraph and Courier was founded by Colonel Arthur B. Sleigh in June 1855 to air a personal grievance against the future commander-in-chief of the British Army, Prince George, Duke of Cambridge. Joseph Moses Levy, the owner of The Sunday Times, agreed to print the newspaper, and the first edition was published on 29 June 1855. The paper cost 2d and was four pages long. Nevertheless, the first edition stressed the quality and independence of its articles and journalists: "We shall be guided by a high tone of independent action." As the paper was not a success, Sleigh was unable to pay Levy the printing bill. Levy took over the newspaper, his aim being to produce a cheaper newspaper than his main competitors in London, the Daily News and The Morning Post, to expand the size of the overall market.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1855: 1855 Milestone — Sleigh in 1855 as The Daily Telegraph and Courier.
2. 1858: 1858 Milestone — The paper's motto, "Was, is, and will be", was included in its emblem which was used for over a century starting in 1858.
3. 2004: 2004 Milestone — The Telegraph was headlined by the BBC in 2004 as the UK's "other paper of record" and mentioned in the Broadview Guide to Writing in 2017 as a newspaper of record among others.
4. 2009: 2009 Milestone — The Telegraph has had a number of news scoops, including an eyewitness account of the outbreak of the Second World War by a novice reporter, Clare Hollingworth, which has been described as "the scoop of the century"; the 2009 parliamentary expenses scandal, which led to a number of high-profile political resignations and for which the paper was named 2009 British Newspaper of the Year; its 2016 undercover investigation of the England football manager Sam Allardyce; and the Lockdown Files in 2023.
5. 2013: 2013 Milestone — In 2013, The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph, which started in 1961, were merged, although the latter retains its own editor.
6. 2025: 2025 Milestone — In May 2025, an investment management firm, RedBird Capital Partners, announced plans to acquire the newspaper's publisher for £500 million (about US$674 million), but the deal collapsed in November 2025.
7. 2026: 2026 Milestone — In March 2026, it was announced that the Telegraph Media Group would be acquired for £575 million by the German company Axel Springer SE, which CEO Mathias Döpfner described as a long‑standing goal and stated that The Daily Telegraph's editorial character would be preserved.

Notable Quotes by The Daily Telegraph

“"We shall be guided by a high tone of independent action."” (1855)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: The Daily Telegraph

True or False: “The Daily Telegraph was founded solely to criticize the policies of Prince George, Duke of Cambridge.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While initially founded due to a grievance against him, its early aims quickly expanded to stress independent journalism and report on all major events.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adam Mickiewicz — Historical peer (Died in 1855) (1855): National Poet of Poland, Romantic master, and leading voice of Slavic literature.
• Alice Freeman Palmer — Historical peer (Born in 1855) (1855): Pioneering American educator and advocate for women's higher education.
• A. A. K. Niazi — Historical peer (Died in 2004) (2004): Pakistani general who commanded Eastern Command during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
• Ahn Ji-ho (actor) — Historical peer (Born in 2004) (2004): South Korean actor known for starting his career in web series.
• Abdul Halim of Kedah — Historical peer (Died in 2017) (2017): Sultan of Kedah and Yang di-Pertuan Agong, a pivotal Malaysian royal figure.
• Adam West — Historical peer (Died in 2017) (2017): American actor best known for portraying Batman in the 1960s and extensive voice work.
• Aimé Bonpland — Historical peer (Died in 1858) (1858): French explorer and botanist, renowned for his scientific travels with Alexander von Humboldt.
• Alexis Soyer — Historical peer (Died in 1858) (1858): Pioneering French chef, writer, and inventor celebrated for his work in Victorian England.
• Aaron Swartz — Historical peer (Died in 2013) (2013): Pioneering programmer, activist, and hacktivist known for RSS, Markdown, and progressive organizing.
• Ada Louise Huxtable — Historical peer (Died in 2013) (2013): Pioneering American architecture critic who elevated urban design to public discourse.

Frequently Asked Questions about The Daily Telegraph