Walter Alison Phillips
Encyclopedia
Walter Alison Phillips was an English
historian
, a specialist in the history of Europe
in the 19th century. From 1914 to 1939 he was the first holder of the Lecky chair of History
in Trinity College, Dublin
. Most of his writing is in the name of W. Alison Phillips, and he was sometimes referred to as Alison Phillips.
A former president of the Oxford Union
and special correspondent of The Times
newspaper, he was a prolific author, including contributions to the Encyclopædia Britannica
, of which for eight years he was chief assistant editor.
in Surrey
, Phillips was educated at Merchant Taylors' School
, which he left in 1882, then at Merton College
, Oxford
, where he was an exhibitioner
, and lastly from 1886 at St John's
, where he was Senior Scholar. He graduated BA
in 1885, with first class honours
in History, and MA in 1889.
In the Michaelmas
term of 1886, he was President of the Oxford Union
. On 7 June 1887, as a guest in the Cambridge Union
, he supported the motion "That in the opinion of this House it is desirable to concede Home Rule
for Ireland
", while Sir John Gorst
, a former Solicitor General
, came to speak against the motion.
published in 1896, was a translation of selected poems of Walther von der Vogelweide
, followed the next year by The War of Greek Independence, 1821 to 1833. In 1901 appeared his Modern Europe, 1815–1899.
From 1903 to 1911, Phillips was Chief Assistant Editor of the projected 11th edition
of the Encyclopædia Britannica
, serving under Hugh Chisholm
, who was editor-in-chief. In 1912, he went to South America
as a Special Correspondent of The Times
newspaper, and then in 1913 was on the staff of The Times. In 1914 he was appointed Lecky Professor
of Modern History
in Trinity College
, Dublin
, the first holder of the new chair, in which he remained until his retirement in 1939. From 1938 until his death he was an honorary Fellow
of his old Oxford college, Merton.
Phillips was strongly opposed to Irish Home Rule
and once declared that "Ireland is not a nation, but two peoples separated by a deeper gulf than that dividing Ireland from Great Britain". His 1923 book The Revolution in Ireland 1906–1923 was criticized for being too partisan of the Unionist
point of view.
By 1922, Phillips was a member of the Royal Irish Academy
. Outside his own specialism in European history, he contributed articles to the Encyclopædia Britannica on musical and literary subjects, including the Nibelungenlied
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, a specialist in the history of Europe
History of Europe
History of Europe describes the history of humans inhabiting the European continent since it was first populated in prehistoric times to present, with the first human settlement between 45,000 and 25,000 BC.-Overview:...
in the 19th century. From 1914 to 1939 he was the first holder of the Lecky chair of History
Lecky Professor of History
The Lecky Professorship of History, previously the Lecky Professorship of Modern History is a chair at Trinity College, Dublin.The professorship was founded in 1913 in memory of William Edward Hartpole Lecky, endowed by his widow....
in Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. Most of his writing is in the name of W. Alison Phillips, and he was sometimes referred to as Alison Phillips.
A former president of the Oxford Union
Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, Britain, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford...
and special correspondent of The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
newspaper, he was a prolific author, including contributions to the Encyclopædia Britannica
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
, of which for eight years he was chief assistant editor.
Early life
The son of John and Jane Phillips of EpsomEpsom
Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. Small parts of Epsom are in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The town is located south-south-west of Charing Cross, within the Greater London Urban Area. The town lies on the chalk downland of Epsom Downs.-History:Epsom lies...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, Phillips was educated at Merchant Taylors' School
Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Merchant Taylors' School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. Since 1933 it has been located at Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire ....
, which he left in 1882, then at Merton College
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
, 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...
, where he was an exhibitioner
Exhibition (scholarship)
-United Kingdom and Ireland:At the universities of Dublin, Oxford and Cambridge, and at Westminster School, Eton College and Winchester College, and various other UK educational establishments, an exhibition is a financial award or grant to an individual student, normally on grounds of merit. The...
, and lastly from 1886 at St John's
St John's College, Oxford
__FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of...
, where he was Senior Scholar. He graduated BA
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...
in 1885, with first class honours
British undergraduate degree classification
The British undergraduate degree classification system is a grading scheme for undergraduate degrees in the United Kingdom...
in History, and MA in 1889.
In the Michaelmas
Michaelmas
Michaelmas, the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel is a day in the Western Christian calendar which occurs on 29 September...
term of 1886, he was President of the Oxford Union
Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, Britain, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford...
. On 7 June 1887, as a guest in the Cambridge Union
Cambridge Union Society
The Cambridge Union Society, commonly referred to as simply "the Cambridge Union" or "the Union," is a debating society in Cambridge, England and is the largest society at the University of Cambridge. Since its founding in 1815, the Union has developed a worldwide reputation as a noted symbol of...
, he supported the motion "That in the opinion of this House it is desirable to concede Home Rule
Irish Home Rule Movement
The Irish Home Rule Movement articulated a longstanding Irish desire for the repeal of the Act of Union of 1800 by a demand for self-government within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The movement drew upon a legacy of patriotic thought that dated back at least to the late 17th...
for Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
", while Sir John Gorst
John Eldon Gorst
Sir John Eldon Gorst PC, QC, FRS was a British lawyer and politician. He served as Solicitor General for England and Wales from 1885 to 1886 and as Vice-President of the Committee on Education between 1895 and 1902....
, a former Solicitor General
Solicitor General for England and Wales
Her Majesty's Solicitor General for England and Wales, often known as the Solicitor General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Attorney General, whose duty is to advise the Crown and Cabinet on the law...
, came to speak against the motion.
Career
At first, Phillips concentrated his efforts on writing. His first book,published in 1896, was a translation of selected poems of Walther von der Vogelweide
Walther von der Vogelweide
Walther von der Vogelweide is the most celebrated of the Middle High German lyric poets.-Life history:For all his fame, Walther's name is not found in contemporary records, with the exception of a solitary mention in the travelling accounts of Bishop Wolfger of Erla of the Passau diocese:...
, followed the next year by The War of Greek Independence, 1821 to 1833. In 1901 appeared his Modern Europe, 1815–1899.
From 1903 to 1911, Phillips was Chief Assistant Editor of the projected 11th edition
Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition
The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition is a 29-volume reference work, an edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. It was developed during the encyclopaedia's transition from a British to an American publication. Some of its articles were written by the best-known scholars of the time...
of the Encyclopædia Britannica
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
, serving under Hugh Chisholm
Hugh Chisholm
Hugh Chisholm was a British journalist, and editor of the 11th and 12th editions of the Encyclopædia Britannica....
, who was editor-in-chief. In 1912, he went to South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
as a Special Correspondent of The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
newspaper, and then in 1913 was on the staff of The Times. In 1914 he was appointed Lecky Professor
Lecky Professor of History
The Lecky Professorship of History, previously the Lecky Professorship of Modern History is a chair at Trinity College, Dublin.The professorship was founded in 1913 in memory of William Edward Hartpole Lecky, endowed by his widow....
of 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...
in Trinity College
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, Dublin
University of Dublin
The University of Dublin , corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin , located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592 Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin, as "the mother of a university" – this date making it...
, the first holder of the new chair, in which he remained until his retirement in 1939. From 1938 until his death he was an honorary 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 his old Oxford college, Merton.
Phillips was strongly opposed to Irish Home Rule
Irish Home Rule Movement
The Irish Home Rule Movement articulated a longstanding Irish desire for the repeal of the Act of Union of 1800 by a demand for self-government within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The movement drew upon a legacy of patriotic thought that dated back at least to the late 17th...
and once declared that "Ireland is not a nation, but two peoples separated by a deeper gulf than that dividing Ireland from Great Britain". His 1923 book The Revolution in Ireland 1906–1923 was criticized for being too partisan of the Unionist
Unionism in Ireland
Unionism in Ireland is an ideology that favours the continuation of some form of political union between the islands of Ireland and Great Britain...
point of view.
By 1922, Phillips was a member of the Royal Irish Academy
Royal Irish Academy
The Royal Irish Academy , based in Dublin, is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is one of Ireland's premier learned societies and cultural institutions and currently has around 420 Members, elected in...
. Outside his own specialism in European history, he contributed articles to the Encyclopædia Britannica on musical and literary subjects, including the Nibelungenlied
Nibelungenlied
The Nibelungenlied, translated as The Song of the Nibelungs, is an epic poem in Middle High German. The story tells of dragon-slayer Siegfried at the court of the Burgundians, how he was murdered, and of his wife Kriemhild's revenge....
.
Publications
- Selected poems of Walter von der Vogelweide, translations into English verse, with introduction and notes (London: 1896)
- The War of Greek Independence, 1821 to 1833 (London: 1897)
- Modern Europe, 1815-1899 (London: Rivingtons, 1901)
- George Canning (London: 1903)
- 'The Congresses, 1815-22', chapter 1 of Cambridge Modern HistoryCambridge Modern HistoryThe Cambridge Modern History is a comprehensive modern history of the world, beginning with the 15th century age of Discovery, published by the Cambridge University Press in the United Kingdom and also in the United States....
vol. 10 The Restoration (1907) - 'Greece and the Balkan Peninsula', chapter 6 of Cambridge Modern History, vol. 10 (1907)
- The Confederation of Europe (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1914)
- A Short History of Germany and Her Colonies, with James Wycliffe HeadlamJames Wycliffe HeadlamJames Wycliffe Headlam was a British academic historian and classicist, who became a civil servant and government advisor. He changed his surname to Headlam-Morley, in 1918. He was knighted in 1929 for his public service....
and Arthur William Holland (1914) - A Short History of Austria-Hungary and Poland, with H. Wickham Steed and David Hannay (London: Encyclopædia Britannica Company, 1914)
- The Revolution in Ireland 1906-1923 (1923)
- History of the Church of Ireland: from the Earliest Times to the Present Day, vol. 2 Movement Towards Rome: the Medieval Church and the Reformation (Oxford University Press, 1934)
- Many articles for the Encyclopædia Britannica, signed by the initials "W. A. P."
External links
- Works by W. Alison Phillips at ebooksread.com
- Walter Alison Phillips at WikisourceWikisourceWikisource is an online digital library of free content textual sources on a wiki, operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Its aims are to host all forms of free text, in many languages, and translations. Originally conceived as an archive to store useful or important historical texts, it has...