Max Aitken, the first Lord Beaverbrook, was the ultimate "started from the bottom" success story of the 20th century. Born the son of a humble clergyman in New Brunswick in 1879, Max replaced formal education with a PhD in hustle. Broke at age 20, by age 30 he had cornered the Canadian cement market and moved to London to conquer bigger ponds.
An outsider in the British class system, Max used his "gift of the gab", financial wizardry and an indominable personality to storm Parliament. He chose the title Lord Beaverbrook as a cheeky nod to his humble roots while ascending to the peerage. As the king of Fleet Street, he turned the Daily Express into the world’s most powerful megaphone.
During WWII, his old friend Winston Churchill tasked him with building Spitfires; Max famously cut through red tape by asking housewives for their pots and pans. His ability to utterly transform the production process – through sheer force of will - was instrumental in winning the "Battle of Britain" and in turn the war itself. He remained a puckish mischief-maker—a Canadian from modest roots who ended up running empires.
Karsh photographed his legendary countryman in 1949, in his country home in the UK.
This is a genuine vintage photogravure, printed in 1959. Archivally mounted on 100% acid-free board, label printed with artist name and signature verso, matted to 16" x 20" in a black frame.
