Charles John Tibbits

Charles John Tibbits (31 January 1861 – 7 July 1935) was a British journalist, newspaper editor, and legal writer.

Biography
Born on 31 January 1861 in Chester, the youngest son of George Tibbits, a solicitor, and Mary Myddleton. He was baptised on 30 December 1863 at St John the Baptist's Church, Chester.

Tibbits attended Albion House School, Chester, and matriculated at Oxford University on 18 October 1880, where he studied to join the Church. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1886, he "wandered into journalism" instead, becoming a reporter, sub-editor, then editor of various local newspapers.

After three years in local journalism he moved to London "to find fortune". He joined Harmsworth Publications, and rose to become the assistant editor for several years to newspaper magnate Alfred Harmsworth,  as well as contributing stories and articles to almost all the London newspapers.

In 1895, he was promoted to editor of the Weekly Dispatch newspaper. Under Tibbits, the newspaper was remodelled, enlarged, and introduced pictures. He was also editor of the short-lived Women's Weekly newspaper (1896–1900).

In 1901, Tibbits and his reporter Charles Windust were convicted for publishing prejudicial articles about an ongoing court case, and were sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment. Tibbits remained editor of the Weekly Dispatch until 1903. He continued to write articles on social questions and occasionally short stories for leading magazines and periodicals after this, including a significant article on tinsel prints for the London Magazine (1903).

He later qualified as a solicitor, becoming an expert on legal matters in British and American journals. His book Marriage Making and Breaking (1911) was a contribution to the contemporary debate on reform of divorce law.

He died on 7 July 1935 at Barnet, Hertfordshire.

Personal life
Tibbits married the author Annie Olive Brazier on 18 January 1896 at St Marylebone Parish Church, London. They had a son, Arthur Christopher Tibbits, and two daughters, Eleanor Mary Tibbits and Isabella Margaret Myddleton Tibbits.

He was a member of a number of gentlemen's clubs, including the New Vagabonds', Press, National Liberal, and Savage Club. According to Who's Who, he enjoyed fishing and chess.