Albert Pollard
Encyclopedia
Albert Frederick Pollard (16 December 1869 - 3 August 1948) was a British historian
who specialized in the Tudor period
.
on the Isle of Wight
. He was educated at Felsted School
and Jesus College, Oxford
where he achieved a first class honours in Modern History
in 1891. He became Assistant Editor
of and a contributor to the Dictionary of National Biography
in 1893. He was Professor of Constitutional History at University College London
from 1903 to 1931. He was a member of the Royal Historical Manuscripts Commission, and founder of the Historical Association
, 1906. He was Editor of History, 1916-1922, and of the Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research
, 1923-1939. He published 500 articles in the Dictionary of National Biography, and many other books and papers concerning history. Later in his career, he was a major force in establishing history as an academic subject in Britain. One of his most influential books was The Evolution of Parliament published in 1920, still read today as a leading history of the English Parliament.
. For example, he put forward the thesis that English foreign policy from 1514 to 1529 was motivated by Wolsey's desire to become Pope. This was attacked by modern historians, and today he is identified with the traditionalist school of history, along with his student, J. E. Neale
, who put forward the thesis of the Puritan choir in Elizabeth's parliament, which seems ungrounded in any real evidence.
and father-in-law to pioneering Communist and women's rights campaigner Kay Beauchamp
.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
who specialized in the Tudor period
Tudor period
The Tudor period usually refers to the period between 1485 and 1603, specifically in relation to the history of England. This coincides with the rule of the Tudor dynasty in England whose first monarch was Henry VII...
.
Life and career
Pollard was born in RydeRyde
Ryde is a British seaside town, civil parish and the most populous town and urban area on the Isle of Wight, with a population of approximately 30,000. It is situated on the north-east coast. The town grew in size as a seaside resort following the joining of the villages of Upper Ryde and Lower...
on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
. He was educated at Felsted School
Felsted School
Felsted School, an English co-educational day and boarding independent school, situated in Felsted, Essex. It is in the British Public School tradition, and was founded in 1564 by Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich who, as Lord Chancellor and Chancellor of the Court of Augmentations, acquired...
and Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
where he achieved a first class honours in Modern History
Modern history
Modern history, or the modern era, describes the historical timeline after the Middle Ages. Modern history can be further broken down into the early modern period and the late modern period after the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution...
in 1891. He became Assistant Editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of and a contributor to the Dictionary of National Biography
Dictionary of National Biography
The Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
in 1893. He was Professor of Constitutional History at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
from 1903 to 1931. He was a member of the Royal Historical Manuscripts Commission, and founder of the Historical Association
Historical Association
The Historical Association is an organisation founded in 1906 and based in London, England. The goals of the Historical Association are to support "the study and enjoyment of history at all levels by creating an environment that promotes lifelong learning and provides for the evolving needs of...
, 1906. He was Editor of History, 1916-1922, and of the Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research
Institute of Historical Research
The Institute of Historical Research is a British educational organisation providing resources and training for historical researchers. It is part of the School of Advanced Study in the University of London and is located at Senate House. The Institute was founded in 1921 by A. F...
, 1923-1939. He published 500 articles in the Dictionary of National Biography, and many other books and papers concerning history. Later in his career, he was a major force in establishing history as an academic subject in Britain. One of his most influential books was The Evolution of Parliament published in 1920, still read today as a leading history of the English Parliament.
Controversy
Albert Pollard studied and wrote about the history of the Tudors from a political viewpoint. Pollard's arguments are nowadays generally discredited by the revisionist school of history led by academics such as Christopher HaighChristopher Haigh
Christopher Haigh is a British historian specialising in religion and politics around the English Reformation. Until his retirement in 2009, he was Student and Tutor in Modern History at Christ Church, Oxford and University Lecturer at Oxford University...
. For example, he put forward the thesis that English foreign policy from 1514 to 1529 was motivated by Wolsey's desire to become Pope. This was attacked by modern historians, and today he is identified with the traditionalist school of history, along with his student, J. E. Neale
J. E. Neale
Sir John Ernest Neale, FBA was a British historian who specialised in Elizabethan and Parliamentary history.-Academic career:...
, who put forward the thesis of the Puritan choir in Elizabeth's parliament, which seems ungrounded in any real evidence.
Personal life
In retirement Pollard lived at Milford-on-Sea. He was the father of the bibliographer and bookseller Graham PollardGraham Pollard
Henry Graham Pollard was a British bookseller and bibliographer.Pollard was the son of the historian Albert Pollard and was born in Putney, London on 7 March 1903...
and father-in-law to pioneering Communist and women's rights campaigner Kay Beauchamp
Kay Beauchamp
Kay Beauchamp was a leading light in the Communist Party of Great Britain in the 1920s. She helped found the Daily Worker and was a local councillor in Finsbury.-Biography:...
.