Crane Brinton
Encyclopedia
Clarence Crane Brinton was an American historian of France, as well as an historian of ideas. His most famous work, The Anatomy of Revolution
, compared the dynamics of revolutionary movements to the progress of fever.
Born in Winsted, Connecticut, his family soon moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he grew up. Brinton attended the public schools there before entering Harvard University in 1915. His excellent academic performance enabled him to win a Rhodes Scholarship
to attend Oxford University. Receiving a Doctor of Philosophy
(D.Phil.) degree there in 1923, Brinton began teaching at Harvard University
that same year, becoming full professor in 1942 and remaining at Harvard until his death. He served as president of the American Historical Association
, the professional association of historians, as well as the Society for French Historical Studies.
For many years he taught a popular course at Harvard known informally to his students as "Breakfast with Brinton."
Brinton was known for his witty, convivial, and urbane writing and commentary, and was fluent in French. During WWII he was for a time Chief of Research and Analysis in London in the Office of Strategic Services
. He was also Fire Marshal for St. Paul's Cathedral in London
, which withstood the Blitz
with minor damages. After the war, he was commended by the United States Army for "Conspicuous Contribution to the Liberation of France" and was Chairman of the Society of Fellows at Harvard in the late 1940s. Among other figures, Fellows during that period included McGeorge Bundy and Ray Cline, who were quite influential in national security and intelligence.
In 1968, Crane Brinton testified at the Fulbright Senate hearings on the Vietnam war
as to the nature of the Vietnamese opposition. He died in September 1968.
Brinton wrote a review of Carroll Quigley
's book Tragedy and Hope.
Among those his scholarship inspired were Samuel P. Huntington
, who cited Brinton many times in his book Political Order in Changing Societies
, and Robert Struble, Jr., in his Treatise on Twelve Lights.
The Anatomy of Revolution
The Anatomy of Revolution is a book by Crane Brinton outlining the "uniformities" of four major political revolutions: the English Revolution of the 1640s, the American, the French, and 1917 Russian Revolution. Brinton notes how the revolutions followed a life-cycle from the Old Order to a moderate...
, compared the dynamics of revolutionary movements to the progress of fever.
Born in Winsted, Connecticut, his family soon moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he grew up. Brinton attended the public schools there before entering Harvard University in 1915. His excellent academic performance enabled him to win a Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
to attend Oxford University. Receiving a Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
(D.Phil.) degree there in 1923, Brinton began teaching at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
that same year, becoming full professor in 1942 and remaining at Harvard until his death. He served as president of the American Historical Association
American Historical Association
The American Historical Association is the oldest and largest society of historians and professors of history in the United States. Founded in 1884, the association promotes historical studies, the teaching of history, and the preservation of and access to historical materials...
, the professional association of historians, as well as the Society for French Historical Studies.
For many years he taught a popular course at Harvard known informally to his students as "Breakfast with Brinton."
Brinton was known for his witty, convivial, and urbane writing and commentary, and was fluent in French. During WWII he was for a time Chief of Research and Analysis in London in the Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
. He was also Fire Marshal for St. Paul's Cathedral in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, which withstood the Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
with minor damages. After the war, he was commended by the United States Army for "Conspicuous Contribution to the Liberation of France" and was Chairman of the Society of Fellows at Harvard in the late 1940s. Among other figures, Fellows during that period included McGeorge Bundy and Ray Cline, who were quite influential in national security and intelligence.
In 1968, Crane Brinton testified at the Fulbright Senate hearings on the Vietnam war
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
as to the nature of the Vietnamese opposition. He died in September 1968.
Brinton wrote a review of Carroll Quigley
Carroll Quigley
Carroll Quigley was an American historian and theorist of the evolution of civilizations. He is noted for his teaching work as a professor at Georgetown University, for his academic publications, and for his research on secret societies.- Biography :Quigley was born in Boston, and attended...
's book Tragedy and Hope.
Among those his scholarship inspired were Samuel P. Huntington
Samuel P. Huntington
Samuel Phillips Huntington was an influential American political scientist who wrote highly-regarded books in a half-dozen sub-fields of political science, starting in 1957...
, who cited Brinton many times in his book Political Order in Changing Societies
Political Order in Changing Societies
Political Order in Changing Societies is a 1968 book by Samuel P. Huntington dealing with changes in the political systems and political institutions...
, and Robert Struble, Jr., in his Treatise on Twelve Lights.
Works
His books include:- The Jacobins: An Essay in the New History (1930), a detailed account of the political radicals of the French Revolution
- A Decade of Revolution (1934), a study of the French Revolution
- The Lives of Talleyrand (1936), a biography of Talleyrand with a uniquely favorable perspective
- The Anatomy of RevolutionThe Anatomy of RevolutionThe Anatomy of Revolution is a book by Crane Brinton outlining the "uniformities" of four major political revolutions: the English Revolution of the 1640s, the American, the French, and 1917 Russian Revolution. Brinton notes how the revolutions followed a life-cycle from the Old Order to a moderate...
(1938, revised 1965) - Ideas and Men: the Story of Western Thought (1950, 1963), an account of western thought from ancient Greece to the present
- A History of Western Morals (1959), an account of ethical questions
- The Shaping of the Modern Mind (1963), an abridged version of his Ideas and Men
- The Americans and the French (1968), an attempt to explain the often difficult relations between two long-time allies.
External links
- "Many Mansions" Brinton's 1963 address to the AHA on desirable diversity in contemporary historical writing.
- Brief biography of Brinton at Bartleby.com