Sydney Checkland
Encyclopedia
Sydney George Checkland was a British
-Canadian economic historian.
Born in Ottawa
, Checkland worked at the Bank of Nova Scotia, then the Ottawa Sanitary Laundry Company, while he gained associate membership of the Canadian Bankers' Association. In 1938, he moved to England to study at the University of Birmingham
, and in his final year served as President of the Guild of Students
at the university. In 1941, he was elected as President of the National Union of Students, serving for only one year before becoming President of the International Council of Students.
In late 1942, Checkland enrolled at Sandhurst
, then served as a lieutenant with the Manchester Regiment, before becoming a tank commander in the Governor General's Foot Guards
of the Canadian Army. An injury during the Normandy Landings left him with permanent nerve damage.
After the war, Checkland joined the Common Wealth Party
and stood unsuccessfully in Sheffield Ecclesall
at the 1945 UK general election. He then returned to study for a masters degree at Birmingham, after which he took up an academic post in economic science at the University of Liverpool
, where he also obtained a doctorate. In 1953, he transferred to the University of Cambridge
, then in 1957 he accepted a personal chair at the University of Glasgow
and founded the Department of Economic History. He quickly developed a strong reputation in a range of fields relating to economic history, and continued to write until his death in 1986.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
-Canadian economic historian.
Born in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Checkland worked at the Bank of Nova Scotia, then the Ottawa Sanitary Laundry Company, while he gained associate membership of the Canadian Bankers' Association. In 1938, he moved to England to study at the 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 in his final year served as President of the Guild of Students
University of Birmingham Guild of Students
The University of Birmingham Guild of Students is the officially recognised body which represents around 28,000 students at the University of Birmingham. The Guild functions as a Student Union as per the 1994 Education Act. It is an independent organisation and not legally connected to the...
at the university. In 1941, he was elected as President of the National Union of Students, serving for only one year before becoming President of the International Council of Students.
In late 1942, Checkland enrolled at Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, then served as a lieutenant with the Manchester Regiment, before becoming a tank commander in the Governor General's Foot Guards
Governor General's Foot Guards
The Governor General's Foot Guards is one of three Household regiments in the Primary Reserve of the Canadian Army, along with The Governor General's Horse Guards and the Canadian Grenadier Guards. The GGFG is the most senior militia infantry regiment in Canada."Civitas et Princeps Cura Nostra" is...
of the Canadian Army. An injury during the Normandy Landings left him with permanent nerve damage.
After the war, Checkland joined the Common Wealth Party
Common Wealth Party
The Common Wealth Party was a socialist political party in the United Kingdom in the Second World War. Thereafter, it continued in being, essentially as a pressure group, until 1993.-The war years:...
and stood unsuccessfully in Sheffield Ecclesall
Sheffield Ecclesall (UK Parliament constituency)
Sheffield Ecclesall was a Parliamentary constituency represented by a single Member of Parliament in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1950. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.- Boundaries...
at the 1945 UK general election. He then returned to study for a masters degree at Birmingham, after which he took up an academic post in economic science at the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
, where he also obtained a doctorate. In 1953, he transferred to 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...
, then in 1957 he accepted a personal chair at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
and founded the Department of Economic History. He quickly developed a strong reputation in a range of fields relating to economic history, and continued to write until his death in 1986.