McWhirter, Norris Dewar

McWhirter, Norris Dewar
▪ 2005

      British publisher (b. Aug. 12, 1925, London, Eng.—d. April 19, 2004, Kington Langley, Wiltshire, Eng.), cofounded, along with his twin brother, Ross, The Guinness Book of Records (later Guinness World Records). The statistical tome, which was first published in 1955, surveyed achievements both heroic and absurd and remained one of the world's best-selling books. Norris McWhirter parlayed notable athletic success as a youth into a career as a sportswriter before cofounding, also with his brother, a business selling sporting facts to newspapers. In 1954 the pair persuaded the Guinness Brewery to finance a book of facts to settle bar bets, and in 1972 they began appearing on the television show Record Breakers. The brothers were also conservative political activists, and Ross was murdered in 1975 by Irish Republican Army terrorists. Norris continued to edit the Book of Records and several related volumes until 1986 and served as an advisory editor until 1996. He was made CBE in 1980.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Norris McWhirter — Norris Dewar McWhirter Born 12 August 1925(1925 08 12) Winchmore Hill, London, England Died 19 April 2004(2004 04 19) (aged 78) Kington Langley, Wiltshire, England Education …   Wikipedia

  • McWhirter — /məkˈwɜtə/ (say muhk wertuh) noun 1. Norris Dewar, 1925–2004, British author and publisher; editor and compiler, with his brother, of The Guinness Book of Records. 2. his brother, (Alan) Ross, 1925–75, British author and publisher …  

  • Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, New York — The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, officially the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in the City and Diocese of New York, is the Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. The cathedral is nicknamed St. John the Unfinished. [Peter… …   Wikipedia

  • Culture of the United Kingdom — The Proms is an eight week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts, on the last night with some traditional patriotic music of the United Kingdom.[1][2] …   Wikipedia

  • John Safer — This article is about the sculptor John Safer.Infobox person name=John Safer caption = John Safer birth name = John Safer birth date=birth date and age|1922|09|06 birth place=Washington, D.C., U.S.A. alma mater=George Washington University… …   Wikipedia

  • Chronology of Provisional Irish Republican Army actions (1970-1979) — This is a chronology of activities by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) from 1970 to 1979. For actions after this period see Chronology of Provisional Irish Republican Army actions. Incidents resulting in at least three deaths are… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”