In the late 1970s he served as High Sheriff of Somerset, and in the 1980s was Chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain and Vice-Chairman of the BBC's Board of Governors.

[4][5] Not yet eighteen, Rees-Mogg went up to Balliol College, Oxford, as a Brackenbury Scholar to read history in January 1946 as a place had fallen temporarily vacant.

From 1946 to 1948, beginning with an exceptionally bitter winter, he did his National Service in the Royal Air Force education department rising to the rank of sergeant.

His duties included teaching illiterate recruits to read and write, and his reference from his commanding officer stated that he was competent to perform simple tasks under supervision.

[6] Rees-Mogg began his career in journalism in London at the Financial Times in 1952, becoming chief leader writer in 1955 and, in addition, assistant editor in 1957.

He moved to The Sunday Times in 1960, later becoming its Deputy Editor from 1964[10] where he wrote "A Captain's Innings",[12] which many believe convinced Alec Douglas-Home to resign as Tory leader, making way for Edward Heath, in July 1965.

[13] With colleagues, he attempted a buyout of Times Group Newspapers in 1981 to stop its sale by the Thomson Organisation to Rupert Murdoch, but was unsuccessful.

Rees-Mogg wrote a comment column for The Independent from its foundation in the autumn of 1986 until near the end of 1992,[15] when he rejoined The Times,[16] where he remained a columnist until shortly before his death.

[24] He co-authored, with James Dale Davidson, three books on the general topic of financial investment and the future of capitalism: Blood in the Streets, The Great Reckoning, and The Sovereign Individual.

[38] Rees-Mogg's funeral was held at Westminster Cathedral on 9 January 2013,[39] with his body being buried in the graveyard of the Church of St James at Cameley in the county of Somerset.