Herbert Louis Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel, was born on November 6, 1870, in Liverpool, Lancashire, England.

He was a British Liberal politician and philosopher. He was educated at University College School in Hampstead, London and Balliol College, Oxford, but at home, he had a Jewish upbringing. Samuel was a social worker in the Whitechapel slum district of East London when he was elected to the House of Commons as a Liberal in 1902. A moderate supporter of the South African War, he had visited Uganda in 1902 and developed expertise in African affairs. He served as a Member of Parliament for Cleveland (1902-1918) and Darwen (1929-1935). He was twice Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1909-1910, 1915-1916). As Postmaster-General (1910-1916), he recognized the postal trade unions and nationalized the telephone services. He also served as Home Secretary (1931-1932), and, in 1920, he was appointed as the first High Commissioner for Palestine (1920-1925). He was the leader of the Liberal Party from 1931 to 1935. Created Viscount in 1937, he led the Liberals in the House of Lords from 1944 to 1955. As president of the British Institute of Philosophy (1931–1959), Samuel interpreted philosophy to the public in such books as “Practical Ethics” (1935), “Belief and Action” (1937), "Essays in Physics" (1951), and "In Search of Reality" (1957).

In 1897, he married Beatrice Miriam Franklin (1871–1959). He died on February 5, 1963, in London, England.