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George Macaulay TrevelyanBritish historian
Date of Birth: 16.04.1876
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of George Macaulay Trevelyan
George Macaulay Trevelyan was a British historian who was born in 1876 in Welcombe, Stratford-on-Avon, England. He was the third child of Sir George Otto Trevelyan and a great-nephew of Thomas Babington Macaulay, a renowned historian and author.
Education and Career
Trevelyan followed in his father's footsteps and attended Harrow School before studying at Trinity College, Cambridge. It was during his time at school and college that he developed a passion for history. He became a member of a secret student society at Trinity College.
In 1898, Trevelyan completed his dissertation, which earned him a place as a teacher at Trinity College. The following year, his dissertation was successfully published. One of his professors at the college, Lord Acton, had a significant influence on Trevelyan, as he was both wise and concerned with moral judgements and personal freedom.
Trevelyan taught at Cambridge until 1903 when he temporarily left academia. He returned to the university in 1927, becoming a professor of modern history. During his time as a professor, he only agreed to supervise one student, John H. Plumb.
Leadership and Honors
In 1946, Trevelyan became the head of Trinity College and successfully fulfilled this role until his retirement in 1951. He was offered the position of President of the British Academy but declined the honor. From 1950 to 1958, he served as the Chancellor of Durham University, and one of the university's colleges now bears his name.
Trevelyan received numerous honors and awards throughout his career. In 1920, he was awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his biography "Lord Grey of the Reform Bill." In 1925, he became a member of the British Academy, and in 1950, he was admitted to the Royal Society. He also received honorary doctorates from various prestigious British universities, including Cambridge.
Trevelyan was actively involved in the preservation of historical landmarks in the country. He served as the first president of the Youth Hostels Association, and the association's headquarters are still named after him.
George Macaulay Trevelyan passed away in 1962, leaving a lasting legacy as one of the last historians of the classical Whig school. His works, often supported by the Whig and Liberal parties, emphasized the importance of ordinary people in history and advocated for the development of democratic society.
