Keith Hancock
Encyclopedia
Sir Keith Hancock KBE (26 June 189813 August 1988) was an Australia
n historian.
He was born in Melbourne
, Victoria, the son of Archdeacon William Hancock. At the age of nine, he won the Royal Humane Society
's medal for rescuing another child from drowning in the Mitchell River
. He was educated at Melbourne Grammar School
and later the University of Melbourne
. Too young to see service in World War I
without permission from his parents, it was said that he always felt shame about the fact he could not fight.
As a Rhodes Scholar, Hancock went to Balliol College, Oxford
in 1922. He graduated in 1924 with a Bachelor of Arts
with first class honours in Modern History
. He then became the first Australian to gain a Fellowship of All Souls College, Oxford in 1923. After returning to Australia he was Professor of Modern History at the University of Adelaide
between 1924 and 1933. In 1930 he published Australia, a book which was well received and notable for its ironic tone, particularly in criticism of Australian institutions such as tariff protection
, was highly influential, and is still frequently quoted today.
From 1934 to 1944 Hancock was the Professor of History at University of Birmingham
and during this war period was also appointed to the War Cabinet
Offices. His Survey of British Commonwealth Affairs was published in three volumes in 1937-42. In 1941 he was appointed Supervisor of the United Kingdom Civil Series of the History of the Second World War
and was thereafter editor of the series. In 1949, with Margaret Gowing
, he wrote The British War Economy, the introductory volume to that series. Between 1944 and 1949, he returned to Oxford, becoming Chichele Professor
of Economic History
. During the War he also played a role in Civil Defence, serving as a firewatcher. He was knighted in 1953, partially for his services in writing and editing the histories.
In 1949 he left Oxford, taking up an appointment as the Director of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies
. He served as the Professor of British Commonwealth Affairs at the University of London
until 1956. During this period he was sent as a government expert to examine constitutional questions in Uganda
in 1954. At this time he began work on his authoritative biography
of the South African Prime Minister Jan Smuts
, which appeared in two volumes in 1962 and 1968, and editing for publication, with Jean van der Poel
, the first four volumes of the Smuts papers.
Hancock returned to Australia in 1957. He was Director of the Research School of Social Sciences at the Australian National University
from 1957 to 1961 and was Professor of History at the Institute of Advanced Studies, ANU until his retirement in 1965. On his retirement he was made Emeritus Professor (1968) and created the first University Fellow
of the ANU. Other positions he held were Chairman of the Editorial Board of the Australian Dictionary of Biography
from 1958 to 1965 and inaugural President of the Australian Academy of the Humanities
from 1969 to 1971.
In his honour, a library of science resources at the ANU was named after him.
He retired in 1965, being appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) on his retirement. In these later years he moved south of Canberra
, becoming a firm supporter of environmental politics. He also disliked American bases on Australian soil.
He died in Canberra on 13 August 1988.
He married Theaden Brocklebank in 1925; she died in 1960. He married Marjorie Eyre in 1961.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n historian.
He was born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria, the son of Archdeacon William Hancock. At the age of nine, he won the Royal Humane Society
Royal Humane Society
The Royal Humane Society is a British charity which promotes lifesaving intervention. It was founded in England in 1774 as the Society for the Recovery of Persons Apparently Drowned, for the purpose of rendering first aid in cases of near drowning....
's medal for rescuing another child from drowning in the Mitchell River
Mitchell River (Victoria)
The Mitchell River is the largest unregulated river in Victoria, Australia and provides a unique example of riparian ecology. Tributaries include the Crooked, Dargo, Wentworth, Wonnangatta, and Wongungarra Rivers, which are surrounded by dense native forest on the steep mountains of the Victorian...
. He was educated at Melbourne Grammar School
Melbourne Grammar School
Melbourne Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school predominantly for boys, located in South Yarra and Caulfield, suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
and later the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
. Too young to see service in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
without permission from his parents, it was said that he always felt shame about the fact he could not fight.
As a Rhodes Scholar, Hancock went to Balliol College, 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...
in 1922. He graduated in 1924 with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
with 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...
. He then became the first Australian to gain a Fellowship of All Souls College, Oxford in 1923. After returning to Australia he was Professor of Modern History at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
between 1924 and 1933. In 1930 he published Australia, a book which was well received and notable for its ironic tone, particularly in criticism of Australian institutions such as tariff protection
Protectionism
Protectionism is the economic policy of restraining trade between states through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, restrictive quotas, and a variety of other government regulations designed to allow "fair competition" between imports and goods and services produced domestically.This...
, was highly influential, and is still frequently quoted today.
From 1934 to 1944 Hancock was the Professor of History at University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
and during this war period was also appointed to the War Cabinet
War Cabinet
A War Cabinet is a committee formed by a government in a time of war. It is usually a subset of the full executive cabinet of ministers. It is also quite common for a War Cabinet to have senior military officers and opposition politicians as members....
Offices. His Survey of British Commonwealth Affairs was published in three volumes in 1937-42. In 1941 he was appointed Supervisor of the United Kingdom Civil Series of the History of the Second World War
History of the Second World War
The History of the Second World War is the official history of Britain's contribution to the Second World War and was published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office . This immense project was sub-divided into a number of areas to ease publication. Military operations are covered in the United Kingdom...
and was thereafter editor of the series. In 1949, with Margaret Gowing
Margaret Gowing
Professor Margaret Gowing, CBE, was an English historian.- Overview :Margaret Gowing was involved with the production of several volumes of the officially sponsored History of the Second World War, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in conjunction with Longman's, Green and Co...
, he wrote The British War Economy, the introductory volume to that series. Between 1944 and 1949, he returned to Oxford, becoming Chichele Professor
Chichele Professorship
The Chichele Professorships are statutory professorships at the University of Oxford named in honour of Henry Chichele , an Archbishop of Canterbury and founder of All Souls College, Oxford...
of Economic History
Economic history
Economic history is the study of economies or economic phenomena in the past. Analysis in economic history is undertaken using a combination of historical methods, statistical methods and by applying economic theory to historical situations and institutions...
. During the War he also played a role in Civil Defence, serving as a firewatcher. He was knighted in 1953, partially for his services in writing and editing the histories.
In 1949 he left Oxford, taking up an appointment as the Director of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies
Institute of Commonwealth Studies
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies, abbreviated to ICS, was founded by the University of London in 1949 to promote academic study of the Commonwealth of Nations and its constituent countries. It became part of the School of Advanced Study in 1994...
. He served as the Professor of British Commonwealth Affairs at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
until 1956. During this period he was sent as a government expert to examine constitutional questions in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
in 1954. At this time he began work on his authoritative biography
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
of the South African Prime Minister Jan Smuts
Jan Smuts
Jan Christiaan Smuts, OM, CH, ED, KC, FRS, PC was a prominent South African and British Commonwealth statesman, military leader and philosopher. In addition to holding various cabinet posts, he served as Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 until 1924 and from 1939 until 1948...
, which appeared in two volumes in 1962 and 1968, and editing for publication, with Jean van der Poel
Jean van der Poel
Jean van der Poel was a South African historian.-Biography:Born in Cape Town, van der Poel studied at the University of Cape Town , completing her doctorate at the London School of Economics...
, the first four volumes of the Smuts papers.
Hancock returned to Australia in 1957. He was Director of the Research School of Social Sciences at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
from 1957 to 1961 and was Professor of History at the Institute of Advanced Studies, ANU until his retirement in 1965. On his retirement he was made Emeritus Professor (1968) and created the first University Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the ANU. Other positions he held were Chairman of the Editorial Board of the Australian Dictionary of Biography
Australian Dictionary of Biography
The Australian Dictionary of Biography is a national, co-operative enterprise, founded and maintained by the Australian National University to produce authoritative biographical articles on eminent people in Australia's history....
from 1958 to 1965 and inaugural President of the Australian Academy of the Humanities
Australian Academy of the Humanities
The Australian Academy of the Humanities was established by Royal Charter in 1969 to advance scholarship and public interest in the humanities in Australia...
from 1969 to 1971.
In his honour, a library of science resources at the ANU was named after him.
He retired in 1965, being appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) on his retirement. In these later years he moved south of Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, becoming a firm supporter of environmental politics. He also disliked American bases on Australian soil.
He died in Canberra on 13 August 1988.
He married Theaden Brocklebank in 1925; she died in 1960. He married Marjorie Eyre in 1961.