Austin Gill
Encyclopedia
Austin Gill CBE
(3 September 1906 – 21 March 1990) was a British
scholar of the French language
and culture
. He was the Marshall Professor of French at the University of Glasgow
from 1966 to 1971.
Gill’s family was of Irish extraction, but he was born in Stockport
, England
, which is just southeast of Manchester proper
. Gill matriculated at the University of Manchester
where he studied French and played football. After graduation, he went on to study first at Grenoble
, where he played centre-half for FC Grenoble
, and then in Paris. In France, Gill was a Faulkner Fellow from 1930 to1931 and a then back in Manchester a Langton Fellow from 1931 to 1933. In 1933 he accepted a lecturer position at the University of Edinburgh
. In 1943 he was sent to North Africa as the British Council
's Representative (head of office), and in August 1944 was sent to France to reopen the Paris office.
In 1945 Gill left the British Council, and was hired at Magdalen College
, Oxford
as a tutor in modern languages. From 1950 to 1954 he returned to the British Council and was director of the British Institute in Paris. In 1955 he was honored by being made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
. That year he returned to Magdalen College where he continued to teach until 1966, when he accepted the Marshall Chair of French at the University of Glasgow
.
Gill's speciality was in French literature of the 19th century
notably poetry, and especially that of Stéphane Mallarmé
. When he retired in 1971 it was in order to pursue that research interest.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/98300 by subscription
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(3 September 1906 – 21 March 1990) was a British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
scholar of the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and culture
Culture of France
The culture of France and of the French people has been shaped by geography, by profound historical events, and by foreign and internal forces and groups. France, and in particular Paris, has played an important role as a center of high culture and of decorative arts since the seventeenth...
. He was the Marshall Professor of French at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
from 1966 to 1971.
Gill’s family was of Irish extraction, but he was born in Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, which is just southeast of Manchester proper
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. Gill matriculated at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
where he studied French and played football. After graduation, he went on to study first at Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
, where he played centre-half for FC Grenoble
FC Grenoble
Football Club de Grenoble Alpes Rugby is a French rugby union club which, until recently, competed in the top level of the French league system. They play at Stade Lesdiguières . They wear red and blue.-History:...
, and then in Paris. In France, Gill was a Faulkner Fellow from 1930 to1931 and a then back in Manchester a Langton Fellow from 1931 to 1933. In 1933 he accepted a lecturer position at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. In 1943 he was sent to North Africa as the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
's Representative (head of office), and in August 1944 was sent to France to reopen the Paris office.
In 1945 Gill left the British Council, and was hired at Magdalen College
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
as a tutor in modern languages. From 1950 to 1954 he returned to the British Council and was director of the British Institute in Paris. In 1955 he was honored by being made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
. That year he returned to Magdalen College where he continued to teach until 1966, when he accepted the Marshall Chair of French at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
.
Gill's speciality was in French literature of the 19th century
French literature of the 19th century
19th-century French literature concerns the developments in French literature during a dynamic period in French history that saw the rise of Democracy and the fitful end of Monarchy and Empire...
notably poetry, and especially that of Stéphane Mallarmé
Stéphane Mallarmé
Stéphane Mallarmé , whose real name was Étienne Mallarmé, was a French poet and critic. He was a major French symbolist poet, and his work anticipated and inspired several revolutionary artistic schools of the early 20th century, such as Dadaism, Surrealism, and Futurism.-Biography:Stéphane...
. When he retired in 1971 it was in order to pursue that research interest.
Obituaries
- The Independent (28 March 1990)
- The Guardian (5 April 1990)
- The Times (7 April 1990)
Further reading
- Peter France (2010) "Gill, Austin (1906–1990)" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/98300 by subscription