Northcliffe had founded the Daily Mail in 1896 and became chief proprietor of the Times in 1908. During the First World War he acted as Chairman of the British War Mission to the USA in 1917, of the British War Mission, 1917-1918, and also as Director of Propaganda in Enemy Countries, 1918. Although erratic and unpredictable, Northcliffe was an influential supporter of Field Marshal Haig against his critics in Lloyd George's War Cabinet (the group responsible for overall strategy and policy in time of war).