Dr. Basil Jack Greenhill CMG (26 February 1920, in

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, city, Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Glouces ...

– 8 April 2003), was a diplomat, museum director and historian. He went to

Bristol Grammar School Bristol Grammar School (BGS) is a 4–18 mixed, independent day school in Bristol, England. It was founded in 1532 by Royal Charter for the teaching of 'good manners and literature', endowed by wealthy Bristol merchants Robert and Nicholas Thorn ...

, before reading philosophy, politics and economics at

Bristol University , mottoeng = earningpromotes one's innate power (from Horace, ''Ode 4.4'') , established = 1595 – Merchant Venturers School1876 – University College, Bristol1909 – received royal charter , type ...

, but his time there was interrupted by wartime naval service. In the navy, he rose from rating to lieutenant, working at the radar research establishment at Malvern, and testing radar on bombers. He emerged in 1946 as a lieutenant, and on the completion of his degree he joined what became the Commonwealth Relations Office, where he stayed until 1966. He was appointed CMG on his retirement in the

1967 New Year Honours Events January * January 1 – Canada begins a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Confederation, featuring the Expo 67 World's Fair. * January 5 ** Spain and Romania sign an agreement in Paris, establishing full consular and ...

. In 1967 he became the Director of the

National Maritime Museum The National Maritime Museum (NMM) is a maritime museum in Greenwich, London. It is part of Royal Museums Greenwich, a network of museums in the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. Like other publicly funded national museums in the Unite ...

, Greenwich, England, until 1983. He also served a term as vice-president of the

Society for Nautical Research The Society for Nautical Research is a British society that conducts research and sponsors projects related to maritime history worldwide. Founded in 1910, the Society initially encouraged research into seafaring, ship-building, the language and ...

.Hugh Murphy & Derek J. Oddy (2010), ''The Mirror of the Seas; A Centenary History of the Society for Nautical Research'', London, Society for Nautical Research, p.109. He was also the author of over forty books and numerous articles on maritime history, many of them produced in collaboration with his second wife, Ann Giffard. His best-known book was his two-volume ''The Merchant Schooners'' (1951–57). He also published ''Westcountrymen in Prince Edward's Isle'' (1967), on Devon shipbuilders in Canada, and ''Boats And Boatmen of Pakistan'' (1971). In 1980, Dr Greenhill received a PhD from Bristol University on his published work, and honorary doctorates from

Plymouth University The University of Plymouth is a public research university based predominantly in Plymouth, England, where the main campus is located, but the university has campuses and affiliated colleges across South West England. With students, it is th ...

and Hull in 1996 and 2002. Dr. Greenhill died at St. Dominick, Cornwall on 8 April 2003.

References

* G. Hattersley-Smith
‘Greenhill, Basil Jack (1920–2003)’
''

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') was published on 23 September ...

'', online edn, Oxford University Press, Jan 2007, (Retrieved 13 Jan 2008).

External links

* British diplomats People educated at Bristol Grammar School 1920 births 2003 deaths Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Directors of museums in the United Kingdom Alumni of the University of Bristol English curators 20th-century British historians British maritime historians 20th-century British businesspeople Royal Navy personnel of World War II Civil servants in the Commonwealth Relations Office {{UK-historian-stub