John Andrew Gallagher
Encyclopedia
John "Jack" Andrew Gallagher, FBA
(1 April 1919 - 5 March 1980) was a distinguished historian of the British Empire
who between 1963 and 1970 held the Beit Professorship of Commonwealth History
at the University of Oxford
and from 1971 until his death was the Vere Harmsworth Professor of Imperial and Naval History
at the University of Cambridge
.
After schooling at the Birkenhead Institute, he proceeded to Trinity College, Cambridge
, as a History Scholar and with the outbreak of the Second World War he joined the Royal Tank Regiment
, eventually serving in Italy, Greece, and North Africa. After the end of the war, Gallagher returned to Cambridge to complete his studies and was elected a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1948.
Gallagher's extraordinarily influential work, Africa and the Victorians: The Official Mind of Imperialism, was co-authored with Ronald Robinson
(with the help of Alice Denny) and first published in 1961. The latter work had been preceded by a widely-read article-- also co-authored with Robinson-- entitled, "The Imperialism of Free Trade". Published in 1953, the latter constitutes a groundbreaking essay among theorists of imperial expansion and "is reputedly the most cited historical article ever published".
In 1974 he delivered both the Ford Lectures
at Oxford (On the theme of the Decline, Revival and Fall of the British Empire) as well as the Wiles Lectures at Queen's University Belfast.
In addition to being one of the most prominent theorists of imperial expansion, he also ensured a considerable legacy as a result of the large numbers of doctoral students at both Cambridge and Oxford whose work he either supervised or strongly influenced. But three of the more prominent ones include: Christopher Bayly, Paul Kennedy
, and William Roger Louis
.
FBA
FBA may refer to:*Fellow of the British Academy*Federation of British Artists*Federal Bar Association*First Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia*Flux Balance Analysis, in chemical engineering/systems biology*Freshwater Biological Association...
(1 April 1919 - 5 March 1980) was a distinguished historian of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
who between 1963 and 1970 held the Beit Professorship of Commonwealth History
Beit Professor of Commonwealth History
The Beit Professorship of Commonwealth History is one of the senior professorships in history at the University of Oxford. It was established in 1905 as the Beit Professorship of Colonial History. The post is held in conjunction with a fellowship at Balliol College, Oxford.- Beit Professors :*...
at the University of 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...
and from 1971 until his death was the Vere Harmsworth Professor of Imperial and Naval History
Vere Harmsworth Professor of Imperial and Naval History
The Vere Harmsworth Professorship of Imperial and Naval History is one of the senior professorships in history at the University of Cambridge. After the Beit Professorship of Colonial History at Oxford and the Rhodes Professorship of Imperial History at King's College London , it is the third...
at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
After schooling at the Birkenhead Institute, he proceeded to Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, as a History Scholar and with the outbreak of the Second World War he joined the Royal Tank Regiment
Royal Tank Regiment
The Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
, eventually serving in Italy, Greece, and North Africa. After the end of the war, Gallagher returned to Cambridge to complete his studies and was elected a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1948.
Gallagher's extraordinarily influential work, Africa and the Victorians: The Official Mind of Imperialism, was co-authored with Ronald Robinson
Ronald Robinson
Ronald "Robbie" Edward Robinson, FBA was a distinguished historian of the British Empire who between 1971 and 1981 held the Beit Professorship of Commonwealth History at the University of Oxford....
(with the help of Alice Denny) and first published in 1961. The latter work had been preceded by a widely-read article-- also co-authored with Robinson-- entitled, "The Imperialism of Free Trade". Published in 1953, the latter constitutes a groundbreaking essay among theorists of imperial expansion and "is reputedly the most cited historical article ever published".
In 1974 he delivered both the Ford Lectures
Ford Lectures
The Ford Lectures are a prestigious series of public lectures given annually in English or British History by a distinguished historian. Known commonly as "The Ford Lectures," they are properly titled "Ford's Lectures in British History" and they are given by a scholar elected to be "Ford's...
at Oxford (On the theme of the Decline, Revival and Fall of the British Empire) as well as the Wiles Lectures at Queen's University Belfast.
In addition to being one of the most prominent theorists of imperial expansion, he also ensured a considerable legacy as a result of the large numbers of doctoral students at both Cambridge and Oxford whose work he either supervised or strongly influenced. But three of the more prominent ones include: Christopher Bayly, Paul Kennedy
Paul Kennedy
Paul Michael Kennedy CBE, FBA , is a British historian at Yale University specialising in the history of international relations, economic power and grand strategy. He has published prominent books on the history of British foreign policy and Great Power struggles...
, and William Roger Louis
William Roger Louis
William Roger Louis, CBE FBA , also known as Wm. Roger Louis, or Roger Louis, informally, is a distinguished historian at the University of Texas at Austin...
.