John Bannerman (historian)
Encyclopedia
John Walter MacDonald Bannerman (13 August 1932 – 8 October 2008) was a Scottish
historian, noted for his work on Gaelic Scotland.
He was born in Balmaha
, Stirlingshire
, the son of John MacDonald Bannerman
, later Lord Bannerman of Kildonan, and his wife Ray Mundell. His family were native speakers of Scottish Gaelic, and Bannerman studied Celtic languages
at Glasgow University and completed his doctorate
at Cambridge University, where he was taught by Kathleen Hughes
.
Although he considered teaching Gaelic in schools, Bannerman instead took up a post at the Celtic department of Aberdeen University before joining the history department at Edinburgh University in 1967. He took over the running of the family farm at Balmaha in 1968, shortly before his father's death, dividing his time between teaching at Edinburgh, writing and farming.
His work on Gaelic Scotland was influential. His early works on Dál Riata
, the Senchus fer n-Alban
and the Iona
chronicles which formed part of the later Chronicle of Ireland
are contained in his 1974 book Studies in the History of Dalriada. He was a major contributor to the record of Late Medieval Monumental Sculpture in the West Highland published in 1977 and his study of the Beaton family—The Beatons: Medical Kindred in the Classical Gaelic Tradition—appeared in 1986. In his latter years he worked on the history of the Lordship of the Isles
. He retired from teaching in 1997 and took up farming full-time at Balmaha.
Bannerman married Chrissie Dick in 1959. They had five children.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
historian, noted for his work on Gaelic Scotland.
He was born in Balmaha
Balmaha
Balmaha is a hamlet on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond in the council area of Stirling, Scotland.The name Balmaha comes from the Gaelic for St Maha's Place which suggests the village may have ancient origins, perhaps as a hermit's residence...
, Stirlingshire
Stirlingshire
Stirlingshire or the County of Stirling is a registration county of Scotland, based around Stirling, the former county town. It borders Perthshire to the north, Clackmannanshire and West Lothian to the east, Lanarkshire to the south, and Dunbartonshire to the south-west.Until 1975 it was a county...
, the son of John MacDonald Bannerman
John Bannerman, Baron Bannerman of Kildonan
John MacDonald Bannerman, Baron Bannerman of Kildonan OBE was a Scottish farmer, rugby union internationalist and Liberal politician.-Family and education:...
, later Lord Bannerman of Kildonan, and his wife Ray Mundell. His family were native speakers of Scottish Gaelic, and Bannerman studied Celtic languages
Celtic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
at Glasgow University and completed his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
at Cambridge University, where he was taught by Kathleen Hughes
Kathleen Hughes (historian)
Kathleen Winifred Hughes, born 8 September 1926 in Middlesbrough, died 20 April 1977, was an English historian, her specialisation was Irish ecclesiastical history, particularly the early Christian Church in Ireland....
.
Although he considered teaching Gaelic in schools, Bannerman instead took up a post at the Celtic department of Aberdeen University before joining the history department at Edinburgh University in 1967. He took over the running of the family farm at Balmaha in 1968, shortly before his father's death, dividing his time between teaching at Edinburgh, writing and farming.
His work on Gaelic Scotland was influential. His early works on Dál Riata
Dál Riata
Dál Riata was a Gaelic overkingdom on the western coast of Scotland with some territory on the northeast coast of Ireland...
, the Senchus fer n-Alban
Senchus fer n-Alban
The Senchus Fer n-Alban is an Old Irish medieval text, believed to have been compiled in the 10th century. It may have been derived from earlier documents of the 7th century which are presumed to have been written in Latin...
and the Iona
Iona
Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and a place for retreats...
chronicles which formed part of the later Chronicle of Ireland
Chronicle of Ireland
The Chronicle of Ireland is the modern name for a hypothesized collection of ecclesiastical annals recording events in Ireland from 432 to 911 AD....
are contained in his 1974 book Studies in the History of Dalriada. He was a major contributor to the record of Late Medieval Monumental Sculpture in the West Highland published in 1977 and his study of the Beaton family—The Beatons: Medical Kindred in the Classical Gaelic Tradition—appeared in 1986. In his latter years he worked on the history of the Lordship of the Isles
Lord of the Isles
The designation Lord of the Isles is today a title of Scottish nobility with historical roots that go back beyond the Kingdom of Scotland. It emerged from a series of hybrid Viking/Gaelic rulers of the west coast and islands of Scotland in the Middle Ages, who wielded sea-power with fleets of...
. He retired from teaching in 1997 and took up farming full-time at Balmaha.
Bannerman married Chrissie Dick in 1959. They had five children.