George Arthur Holmes,
FBA (born 22 April 1927 in Aberystwth–died 29 January 2009) was
Chichele Professor of Medieval History at the
University of Oxford
, mottoeng = The Lord is my light
, established =
, endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019)
, budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20)
, chancellor ...
, and a
Fellow
A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context.
In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements.
Within the context of higher education ...
of
All Souls College, Oxford
All Souls College (official name: College of the Souls of All the Faithful Departed) is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Unique to All Souls, all of its members automatically become fellows (i.e., full members of t ...
, 1989-94.
Family, early life, and education
Holmes was born at
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth () is a university and seaside town as well as a community in Ceredigion, Wales. Located in the historic county of Cardiganshire, means "the mouth of the Ystwyth". Aberystwyth University has been a major educational location in ...
,
Cardiganshire
Ceredigion ( , , ) is a county in the west of Wales, corresponding to the historic county of Cardiganshire. During the second half of the first millennium Ceredigion was a minor kingdom. It has been administered as a county since 1282. Cere ...
,
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
, son of English watchmaker John Holmes and Welsh mother Margaret (née Thomas). John Holmes had moved from London to Wales to marry Margaret, whom he met on a cycling holiday.
Holmes was educated at
Ardwyn County School and
University College, Aberystwyth. He went on to
Cambridge University
, mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts.
Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge.
, established =
, other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...
for graduate study under
M. M. Postan. In 1953, he married Anne Klein, a scholar of 19th century French literary culture. The couple had two sons and two daughters.
Academic career
In 1951,
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge founded by the House of Tudor, Tudor matriarch Lady Margaret Beaufort. In constitutional terms, the college is a charitable corpo ...
elected Holmes to a research fellowship. After having a year abroad at the
University of Göttingen
The University of Göttingen, officially the Georg August University of Göttingen, (german: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, known informally as Georgia Augusta) is a public research university in the city of Göttingen, Germany. Founded ...
, in 1952-53, he moved to Oxford in 1954, where he became Tutor in
Modern History
The term modern period or modern era (sometimes also called modern history or modern times) is the period of history that succeeds the Middle Ages (which ended approximately 1500 AD). This terminology is a historical periodization that is applie ...
at
St Catherine's Society. When the University granted that Society full collegiate status, he became one of the founding Fellows of
St Catherine's College, Oxford
St Catherine's College (colloquially called St Catz or Catz) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford and is the newest college admitting both undergraduate and graduate students. Tracing its roots back to 1868 (although t ...
at its foundation in 1962. In 1967-68, Holmes spent a year at
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private university, private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial Colleges, fourth-oldest ins ...
. At St Catherine's, he played an important role in establishing the academic credentials of the College, serving in a variety of College positions including vice-master in 1969-1971.
[Obituary, ''Daily Telegraph'', April 2009]
From 1974 to 1980, he edited the ''
English Historical Review
''The English Historical Review'' is a bimonthly peer-reviewed academic journal that was established in 1886 and published by Oxford University Press (formerly Longman). It publishes articles on all aspects of history – British, European, and wo ...
''. Elected a Fellow of the
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national academy for the humanities and the social sciences.
It was established in 1902 and received its royal charter in the same year. It is now a fellowship of more than 1,000 leading scholars span ...
in 1985, he also served for many years as Delegate to
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world, and its printing history dates back to the 1480s. Having been officially granted the legal right to print books ...
.
In 1993, the
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national academy for the humanities and the social sciences.
It was established in 1902 and received its royal charter in the same year. It is now a fellowship of more than 1,000 leading scholars span ...
awarded Holmes its
Serena Medal The British Academy presents 18 awards and medals to recognise achievement in the humanities and social sciences.
Overview
The British Academy currently awards 18 prizes and medals:
General awards:
* British Academy Medal (for academic research ...
for Italian studies.
Published works
* ''The estates of the higher nobility in fourteenth-century England''. Cambridge studies in economic history. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1957.
* ''The later Middle Ages, 1272-1485''. Edinburgh: T. Nelson,
962
Year 962 ( CMLXII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Byzantine Empire
* December – Arab–Byzantine wars – Sack of Aleppo: A Byzantine e ...
London: Sphere Books, 1970; London: Cardinal, 1974.
* ''The Florentine enlightenment 1400-1450''. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1969; Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1992.
* ''The Oxford history of medieval Europe''. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992, 2001.
* ''Europe: hierarchy and revolt, 1320-1450'' London: Fontana/Collins, 1975; Oxford: Blackwell, 2000.
* ''The good parliament''. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1975.
* ''Dante''. Past Masters series. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980.
* ''Florence, Rome and the origins of the Renaissance''. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1986, 1988.
* ''
The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval Europe
''The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval Europe'' is a history of medieval Europe, first published by Oxford University Press in 1988 under the editorship of George Holmes (historian), George Holmes. It is divided into six chapters by differe ...
''. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988, 1990, 2001.
* ''The first age of the western city, 1300-1500: an inaugural lecture delivered before the University of Oxford on 8 November 1989''. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1990.
* ''Art and politics in Renaissance Italy: British Academy lectures'', selected and introduced by George Holmes. Oxford: Published for the British Academy by Oxford University Press, 1993, 1995.
* ''Renaissance''. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1996; London: Phoenix Illustrated, 1998.
* ''The Oxford illustrated history of Italy''. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997, 2001.
References
External sources
Chichele Professorship of Medieval History 24 March 2009
Obituary, ''The Times''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holmes, George
1927 births
2009 deaths
Fellows of All Souls College, Oxford
Fellows of St Catherine's College, Oxford
Oxford University Press people
Fellows of the British Academy
British medievalists
Chichele Professors of Medieval History
People educated at Ardwyn School, Aberystwyth
20th-century British historians