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The Manchester Guardian was founded by John Edward Taylor in 1821 and first published on 5 May of that year. The paper was intended to promote the liberal interest in the aftermath of the Peterloo Massacre, in the context of the growing anti-Corn Laws campaign flourishing in Manchester during this period.

It was published weekly on Saturdays until 1836, when a Wednesday edition was added. In 1855 the abolition of Stamp Duty on newspapers finally made it possible to publish the paper daily, at a reduced cover price of 2d.

The Guardian achieved national and international recognition under the editorship of CP Scott, who held the post for 57 years from 1872. Scott bought the paper in 1907 following the death of Taylor’s son, and pledged that the principles laid down in the founder’s will would be upheld by retaining the independence of the newspaper. CP Scott outlined those principles in a much-quoted article written to celebrate the centenary of the paper: “Comment is free, but facts are sacred… The voice of opponents no less than that of friends has a right to be heard.”

After retiring from an active role in managing and editing the paper, Scott passed control to his two sons, John Russell Scott as manager and Edward Taylor Scott as editor. Realising that the future independence of the paper would be jeopardised in the event of the death of one or the other, the two sons made an agreement that in the event of either’s death, one would buy the other’s share.

CP Scott died in 1932 and was followed only four months later by Edward, so sole ownership fell to JR Scott. Faced with the potential of crippling death duties and the predatory interest of competitors, Scott contemplated a radical move to ensure the future of both the Guardian and the highly profitable Manchester Evening News. He concluded that the only solution was to give away his inheritance, a far-reaching solution which provoked close advisor (and future Lord Chancellor) Gavin Simonds to conclude: “you are trying to do something which is very repugnant to the law of England. You are trying to divest yourself of a property right”.

The Editorial, Financial and Wire Room members of the Manchester Guardian staff in 1921. Back row: Messrs. F. Marshall, J.M. Denvir, R. Nelson, F.W. Long, J.H. Foxcroft, I. Brown, E.N. Smith, F. Perrot, A. Percival Middle row: Mrs. Avis, Mr. H. Rose Front row: Mr. H. Gravett, Miss E. Isitt, Messrs. O.R. Hobson, J. Bone, H. Dore, J. Drysdale, A.H. Boyd, H. Williams — Editorial, Financial and Wire Room staff members of the Manchester Guardian photographed in 1921. Back row: Messrs. F. Marshall, J.M. Denvir, R. Nelson, F.W. Long, J.H. Foxcroft, I. Brown, E.N. Smith, F. Perrot, A. Percival Middle row: Mrs. Avis, Mr. H. Rose Front row: Mr. H. Gravett, Miss E. Isitt, Messrs. O.R. Hobson, J. Bone, H. Dore, J. Drysdale, A.H. Boyd, H. Williams Photograph: Walter Doughty/The Guardian

In June 1936, JR Scott formally passed ownership of the paper to the trustees of the Scott Trust. As well as pledging to ensure the radical editorial tradition of the paper (that the newspaper “shall be conducted in the future on the same lines and in the same spirit as heretofore”, in the words of the founder’s legacy), the Scott Trust also has the duty to maintain a secure financial footing for the business: “…to devote the whole of the surplus profits of the Company which would otherwise have been available for dividends…towards building up the reserves of the Company and increasing the circulation of and expanding and improving the newspapers.” These principles remain the only instructions given to an incoming editor of the Guardian, though the Scott family retained an interest in the running of the company until 1984, when, aged 70, Richard F Scott retired from the chairmanship of the Trust.

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