Joad , Cyril Edwin Mitchinson , 1891-1953 , philosopher

Cyril Edwin Mitchinson Joad was born in Durham and educated at Balliol College, Oxford. He joined the Fabian Society whilst still a student. After graduating, he joined the civil service and worked for the Board of Trade for more than 15 years; during this time he wrote many articles and reviews, and several books on philosophy. In 1930 he left the Board of Trade to become head of Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London, a position he held for many years. Joad's personal life was unconventional: he left his wife after 6 years of marriage and subsequently had many short-term relationships. His left-wing political views, support for divorce, abortion and Sunday trading, and opposition to war and religion made him controversial during his lifetime, though many of his views changed during the last 5 years of his life. He became well known to the public as a regular panellist on the BBC radio programme The Brains Trust.