Piers Mackesy
Encyclopedia
Piers Gerald Mackesy is a British
military historian
who taught at the University of Oxford
.
in Scotland
, the son of Major-General Pierse Joseph Mackesy and Leonora Cook. Growing up in an army family, he followed his father's assignments and lived on a number of army posts, including Quetta, Chatham, and Borden. He was educated at Wellington College
and was commissioned into the Royal Scots Greys in 1944, serving until 1947. Subsequently, he became a scholar of Christ Church, Oxford
, obtaining his bachelor's degree in 1950. As a graduate student, he studied for his D.Phil. degree at Oriel College, Oxford, where he wrote his thesis on British Strategy in the Mediterranean, 1803–1810. His daughter is the novelist Serena Mackesy
.
, and in the following year he was appointed tutor in modern history and Fellow of Pembroke College, Oxford
in 1954, remaining there until he retired in 1988. While at Pembroke, he became senior tutor and vicegerent
of the College. For many years, he taught the special subject in military history at Oxford with Professor N. H. Gibbs
. This course of study involved using the War of the Second Coalition
as a case study for examining the theories of Carl von Clausewitz
. He remains an Emeritus Fellow of the College.
Mackesy was visiting fellow, Institute for Advanced Study
in Princeton
(1961–1962), visiting professor, California Institute of Technology
(1966), Bland-Lee Lecturer at Clark University
, the Naval War College
, the U.S. Military Academy, and Northeastern University. He was the Lees Knowles Lecturer at Cambridge University in 1972, and served as a member of Council, Institute of Early American History and Culture, Williamsburg, Virginia, 1970–1973.
In 1978 the University of Oxford awarded Mackesy the degree of D.Litt.; in 1988 he was elected a Fellow of the British Academy.
Contributor to:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
military historian
Military history
Military history is a humanities discipline within the scope of general historical recording of armed conflict in the history of humanity, and its impact on the societies, their cultures, economies and changing intra and international relationships....
who taught 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...
.
Early life and education
Piers Mackesy was born in Cults, near AberdeenAberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
in Scotland
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...
, the son of Major-General Pierse Joseph Mackesy and Leonora Cook. Growing up in an army family, he followed his father's assignments and lived on a number of army posts, including Quetta, Chatham, and Borden. He was educated at Wellington College
Wellington College, Berkshire
-Former pupils:Notable former pupils include historian P. J. Marshall, architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, impressionist Rory Bremner, Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, author Sebastian Faulks, language school pioneer John Haycraft, political journalist Robin Oakley, actor Sir Christopher...
and was commissioned into the Royal Scots Greys in 1944, serving until 1947. Subsequently, he became a scholar of Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, obtaining his bachelor's degree in 1950. As a graduate student, he studied for his D.Phil. degree at Oriel College, Oxford, where he wrote his thesis on British Strategy in the Mediterranean, 1803–1810. His daughter is the novelist Serena Mackesy
Serena Mackesy
-Life and education:Serena Mackesy is the daughter of the Scots-born Oxford military historian Piers Mackesy. She is also the granddaughter on her mother's side of the novelist Margaret Kennedy and on her father's side of Leonora Mackesy , who wrote Harlequin romances as Leonora Starr and Dorothy...
.
Academic career
Upon completion of his doctorate, Mackey was appointed Harkness Fellow at Harvard UniversityHarvard 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...
, and in the following year he was appointed tutor in modern history and Fellow of Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
in 1954, remaining there until he retired in 1988. While at Pembroke, he became senior tutor and vicegerent
Vicegerent
Vicegerent is the official administrative deputy of a ruler or head of state: vice + gerere .-Related usage:*The Byzantine Emperors held as a title "God's Vicegerent on Earth"....
of the College. For many years, he taught the special subject in military history at Oxford with Professor N. H. Gibbs
N. H. Gibbs
Norman Henry Gibbs was Chichele Professor of the History of War at Oxford University for 24 years from 1953 to 1977, the longest tenure of all who have held the chair since its establishment in 1909.-Education and early career:Gibbs was an Open Exhibitioner at Magdalen College, Oxford in 1928,...
. This course of study involved using the War of the Second Coalition
War of the Second Coalition
The "Second Coalition" was the second attempt by European monarchs, led by the Habsburg Monarchy of Austria and the Russian Empire, to contain or eliminate Revolutionary France. They formed a new alliance and attempted to roll back France's previous military conquests...
as a case study for examining the theories of Carl von Clausewitz
Carl von Clausewitz
Carl Philipp Gottfried von Clausewitz was a Prussian soldier and German military theorist who stressed the moral and political aspects of war...
. He remains an Emeritus Fellow of the College.
Mackesy was visiting fellow, Institute for Advanced Study
Institute for Advanced Study
The Institute for Advanced Study, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States, is an independent postgraduate center for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. It was founded in 1930 by Abraham Flexner...
in Princeton
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
(1961–1962), visiting professor, California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
(1966), Bland-Lee Lecturer at Clark University
Clark University
Clark University is a private research university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts.Founded in 1887, it is the oldest educational institution founded as an all-graduate university. Clark now also educates undergraduates...
, the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
, the U.S. Military Academy, and Northeastern University. He was the Lees Knowles Lecturer at Cambridge University in 1972, and served as a member of Council, Institute of Early American History and Culture, Williamsburg, Virginia, 1970–1973.
In 1978 the University of Oxford awarded Mackesy the degree of D.Litt.; in 1988 he was elected a Fellow of the British Academy.
Publications
- The War in the Mediterranean, 1803-1810 (1957)
- The War for America, 1775-1783 (1964, 1992)
- Statesmen at War: the Strategy of Overthrow, 1798-1799 (1974)
- Could the British have Won the War of Independence?: Bland-Lee lecture, September 1975 (1976)
- The Coward of Minden: the Affair of Lord George Sackville (1979)
- War without Victory: The Downfall of Pitt, 1799-1802 )1984)
- British Victory in Egypt, 1801: the End of Napoleon's Conquest (1995) — awarded the Templer Medal
Contributor to:
- Michael Howard, ed, Wellingtonian Studies (1959)
- David L. Jacobson, ed., Essays on the American Revolution (1970)
- William M. Fowler, Jr. and Wallace Coyle, eds., The American Revolution: Changing Perspectives (1979)
- John B. Hattendorf and Malcolm H. Murfett, eds, The Limitations of Military Power: Essays Presented to Professor Norman Gibbs on His Eightieth Birthday (1990)
Sources
- "Fellows in the 1940s and 1950s" — Pembroke College, Oxford
- "Liberty Scholars"
- "The Templer Medal Book Competition"