The Greatest Hustler

On 1 January 1900, Byron Curtis,1 a tall, spare man, with a striking moustache, became editor of The Standard. Curtis was born near Worcester on 10 August 1843 and, after being educated privately, he eventually joined the staff of The Echo as assistant editor and Parliamentary summary writer in 1869. Six years later he was appointed acting editor, and as such on 4 October 1875 brought out The Echo as the first London halfpenny morning paper. It was not profitable, though, and the last issue was published on 31 May 1876. Curtis’s work on The Echo, however, had won Mudford’s approval, and the editor invited Curtis to join The Standard as a leader writer in 1877. By 1900, with 23 years’ experience as chief assistant editor, Curtis was in an enviable position.