Educated at Bradford Grammar School and St John's College, Cambridge, Milner (1905-57) was assistant director of examinations for the Civil Service Commission (1930-39), during the war served in the Ministries of Information and Home Security and in the Home Office, and in 1944-48 was director of examinations for the Civil Service Commission. He joined the Treasury in 1948, and became representative in the Middle East and financial counsellor to the British Embassy in Beirut.
See list of letters .