1961
Daniel Norman Chester
Nuffield College, Oxford, United Kingdom
(1961-1964)
Sir Daniel Norman Chester (1907–1986) was a British academic known for his contributions to public administration and political science. He received his B.A. in 1930 and M.A. in 1933 from the University of Manchester.
His early research focused on the financial and administrative relationships between central and local governments, which laid the foundation for his later scholarship. After a Rockefeller Fellowship in the United States (1935-1936), where he studied public utilities, Chester gained valuable insights into governance and policy-making. His expertise in public administration led to his appointment to the Economic Section of the War Cabinet Secretariat during World War II.
After the war, Chester joined Nuffield College, Oxford, as a Fellow in 1945, marking the beginning of a lifelong association with the institution. In 1954, he was elected Warden of Nuffield, a position he held until 1978. His leadership was instrumental in shaping the College as a pioneering center for graduate study in the social sciences. He played a key role in reconciling Viscount Nuffield with the institution, ensuring the continued financial support that allowed the College to thrive. Under Chester's leadership, Nuffield became a leading research center, attracting prominent scholars and encouraging interdisciplinary studies.
For his services to science, public service, and political science, Chester was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1951 and knighted in 1974. He also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester in 1968 and was awarded the Légion d'honneur in 1976 by the French government.
His books include Economics, Politics and Social Studies in Oxford, 1900–1945 (1986); The English Administrative System, 1780–1870 (1981); The Nationalisation of British Industry, 1945–1951 (1975); Questions in Parliament (1962); The Nationalised Industries: An Analysis of the Statutory Provisions (1951); Central and Local Government (1951); and Lessons of the British War Economy (1951).
Chester served on the 5XÉçÇøExecutive Committee from 1952 to 1955 and as Vice-President from 1955 to 1958. During his presidency (1961-1964), the 6th 5XÉçÇøWorld Congress was organized in Geneva in 1964. A strong advocate for the study of government institutions, he played a key role in founding the Study of Parliament Group in 1964 and was a dedicated supporter of the Royal Institute of Public Administration.
