Editorship of Fabian Ware (1905–1911)
Her father, Lord Glenesk, was the owner of The Morning Post. Glenesk replaced his father, Peter Borthwick, as editor of the paper in 1852, and he purchased it in 1876. Under his ownership, the paper gradually shifted to advocate protectionist policies and supported Lord Palmerston. He trained her brother Oliver Borthwick to take over the paper, but her brother died in 1905. Upon Oliver's death, Lady Bathurst became involved in the paper.
Earlier in 1905, before Lady Bathurst became the owner, Fabian Ware was made editor of The Morning Post. Shortly after beginning work, he came into conflict with Glenesk, who thought Ware should promote tariff reform less. Ware wrote asking Lady Bathurst to intervene and threatening to resign. When Glenesk died in November 1908, she became the owner of the paper. Although Spenser Wilkinson, the paper's lead writer, attempted to turn her against Ware, Ware eventually became Lady Bathurst's favorite editor.
When Lady Bathurst took ownership of the newspaper, it was reported that she was the only female newspaper owner in London, and by some papers that she was the only woman in the world to own a major newspaper. She focused The Morning Post on political and diplomatic affairs and was a dedicated Conservative. Borthwick played a large role in dictating the paper's policies. In 1922, it was written that "no line of importance is admitted to the columns without her 'O.K'". She was described in 1977 as having remained in "constant contact with its editor and with the latest political maneuvers and events." The historian Keith M. Wilson wrote in a history of The Morning Post that under her editorship the paper grew to "reflect her own character and outlook", noting that, in addition to being closely involved with editing, Lady Bathurst often contributed articles to the paper. However, she also sought to preserve the paper to be handed over to her children and was conservative in her management, unwilling to take risks.
In response to the perceived military deficiency of the United Kingdom and Germany's successful test of a Zeppelin, The Morning Post announced the creation of a National Airship Fund on 21 June 1909. The aim of the fund was to raise £20,000 through public subscription to purchase the United Kingdom an airship. Lady Bathurst contributed the first £2,000 to the fund. In July, Ware travelled to Paris and commissioned Lebaudy Frères to build the Lebaudy Morning Post. In August, it was revealed that the Daily Mail had offered to pay for a hangar while an airship from Clément-Bayard was shipped to England. Ware rushed to ensure the Morning Post's airship arrived first, and by May 1910 he began helping plan the airship's route to England. However, on 16 October 1910, the Clément-Bayard No.2, sponsored by The Daily Mail, arrived in England. The War Office purchased the airship and the National Airship Fund was left out of negotiations. The airship commissioned by The Morning Post was damaged when it arrived in England ten days after the Clément-Bayard No.2, its hangar was too small, and it crashed on its first test flight. Ware was accused by H. Massac Buist and L. J. Bathurst, the paper's manager and Lady Bathurst's brother-in-law, of financial mismanagement and poorly managing the paper. After threatening to sue L. J. Bathurst over libel, he was given £3,000 and agreed to retire. His retirement was announced on 14 June 1911.
