A self - educated man born in Islington , London , Flint left school at 13 .
A self - educated man born in Islington , London , Flint worked in various capacities before beginning his long and distinguished career in the Civil Service in 1904 .
A self - educated man born in Islington , London , Flint left school at 13 and worked in various capacities before beginning his long and distinguished career in the Civil Service in 1904 .