John le Sage

Who was John le Sage?

John Merry Le Sage, was a British journalist and newspaper editor.

Born in Clifton, Bristol, Le Sage was the son of John Sage and his wife Elizabeth, née Godfrey; Le Sage would adopt the "Le" for his last name during middle age. He began his career in journalism when he was employed as a reporter for The Torquay Directory and South Devon Journal, later working for the Western Morning News. In 1863, he obtained a position with The Daily Telegraph in London, beginning an association with the paper that would last for sixty years.

Le Sage worked primarily as a foreign correspondent. Though not regarded as a great writer, he was best known for providing the first reports of the German troops marching into Paris during the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. He was also present during the period of the Paris Commune, as well as the coronation of Tsar Alexander III. He enjoyed a good relationship with first Joseph Moses Levy and then his son Edward Levy-Lawson, successive owners of the Daily Telegraph. When the senior Levy died, Le Sage was named as editor, though Levy-Lawson exercised firm control over the newspaper until he became Baron Burnham in 1903.