 St Albans) in Hertfordshire, followed by Westminster School in London (following in his father's footsteps), and Christ Church, Oxford, where he gained a first-class honours degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.Lawson carried out his National Service as a Royal Navy officer, during which time he commanded the fast-patrol boat HMS "Gay Charger".Lawson began his career as a journalist at the "Financial Times" in 1956, writing the Lexicon column.