Seebohm Rowntree is most famous for making a study of poverty in York. He published his findings in 1901. They influenced many people to change their ideas about why people were poor and what should be done to help them, including the Liberal government of 1905-1915. He was the first to coin the term ‘the poverty line’ and some people think that without Seebohm Rowntree we would not have the NHS today.
Seebohm Rowntree lived in York and was the son of Joseph Rowntree who owned a large chocolate factory in the city. The Rowntree family had a big impact on York. Seebohm worked for the family firm all his life and was chairman of the company from1923 until 1941. He wrote books on business management, including ‘The Human Factor in Business’ in 1921. It was his initiative that led to Rowntree’s being the first British company to employ a full-time industrial psychologist, who worked to improve efficiency among workers, but also to improve marketing.
Seebohm Rowntree was a Quaker. The Quakers (known also as The Society of Friends) are from the Christian tradition, worship in silence and try to work in the world in a way which reflects their experience of God. The Rowntree family was Quaker and Seebohm went to a Quaker School. His Quaker beliefs influenced his life and work. For example, he wanted to help the poor and, like many Quakers, he was opposed to Britain fighting in World War One. He was also very concerned about the problems which alcohol caused for individuals, families and society.