Sidney James Webb, first Baron Passfield (July 13rd, 1859 - October 13rd, 1947) is a British Socialist, economist and reformer.

It is one of the very first member of the Fabian Society in 1884 with G. Bernard Shaw. With Beatrice Webb, Annie Besant, Graham Wallas, Edward R. Pease, Hubert Bland and Sidney Olivier and George Bernard Shaw, they transform Fabian Society into an important club politico-intellectual in England of the Edwardian era.

Webb is born in London. He studies the right to the Birbeck Literary and Scientific Institution. In 1895, it contributes to the foundation of the London School off Economics, using a gift which Fabian Society had inherited. He becomes professor of public administration in 1912, a station which he keeps during fifteen years. In 1892, he marries Beatrice Potter Webb, which shared its ideas and beliefs.

Both are members of the Workers party and hold an active political role. Sidney becomes appointed in 1922. Their influence is all the more important as they organize the Coefficients, of the dinners which attracted the most influential statesmen and the thinkers of the time. In 1929, he becomes Baron Passfield and member of the English government (Secretary of State to the colonies and Secretary of State to the businesses of the dominions) under Ramsay MacDonald. In 1930, it must resign because of health issues. Webb supported the the USSR until their death. Their book the truth on Russia Soviet (1942) is published in 1942.

The Webb husbands coécrirent a book reference on the trade unions, History off Trade Unionism in 1894.

In The Next Machiavelli (1911) of H.G. Wells, Webb, under the name of Baileys, are criticized to be of the middle-class men manipulators. Fabian Society, whose Wells was a member of very short duration was not better in its eyes.

Files

The writings of Sidney Webb belong to the Passfield files off in London School Economics.