Thomas Martyn

Education

Martyn graduated from Oxford University, then joined the Royal Air Force, where he served as a squadron commander.

Career

Martyn"s father was a British soldier who died in Rhodesia. He lost a leg during World War I.

Martyn did not have much journalism experience, but he was fluent in French and German and knowledgeable about European politics. Martyn was the highest-paid staff member at the time.

Martyn resigned in 1925 after a dispute over expenses associated with the magazine"s temporary move to Cleveland, Ohio.

Martyn worked at the New York Times for several years before raising capital to start News-Week. He raised $2.25 million and published the first edition February 17, 1933.

After losing money for four years, Martyn declared bankruptcy for the company and sold his interests in the magazine.

Achievements

• Time co-founder Henry Luce hired Martyn as a foreign news editor at Time based solely on the recommendation of journalist John Franklin Carter. According to Isaiah Wilner, Martyn separated from his first wife and lived as a houseguest of Time co-founder Briton Hadden.