Con Coughlin

Con Coughlin (born 14 January 1955) is a British journalist and author, currently The Daily Telegraph Defence Editor.

Early years

He was born in London, England, the son of the Telegraphs crime correspondent C. A. Coughlin. The eldest of four children (his younger brother is Vincent Coughlin QC) he grew up in Upminster, Essex. Raised as a Catholic, at the age of 11 he won a scholarship to Christ's Hospital, and at 18 gained a scholarship to read Modern History at Brasenose College, Oxford, where he specialised in the Industrial Revolution under the tutelage of the historian Simon Schama.

Journalist

In August 1977 Coughlin joined the Thomson Regional Newspapers graduate trainee course and after undertaking his initial training in Cardiff served out his indentures as a trainee reporter with the Reading Evening Post. In November 1980 Coughlin joined The Daily Telegraph as a general news reporter. Coughlin has spent most of his journalistic career working for what is now the Telegraph Media Group.