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John Fortescue (historian)

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Sir John Fortescue

Born28 December 1859
Died22 October 1933
Alma mater
Fortescue arms

Sir John William Fortescue KCVO FRHistS (28 December 1859 – 22 October 1933)[1] was a British military historian. He was a historian of the British Army and served as Royal Librarian and Archivist at Windsor Castle from 1905 until 1926.

Early life

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Fortescue was born on 28 December 1859 in Madeira, the 5th son of Hugh, 3rd Earl Fortescue, by his wife Georgina, Countess Fortescue (née Dawson-Damer).[2][1] His family owned much of the area around Simonsbath on Exmoor since the twelfth century.[3] Fortescue was educated at Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge, later lecturing at Oxford (DLitt (Oxon)).[1][4]

Career

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Fortescue is best known for his major work on the history of the British Army, which he wrote between 1899 and 1930.[5] Between 1905 and 1926, he worked as the Royal Librarian at Windsor Castle.[5]

In 1911, Fortescue delivered the Ford Lectures at Oxford University.[4] In 1920, he delivered the British Academy's Raleigh Lecture on History.[6] He served as president of the Royal Historical Society from 1921 to 1925[7] and was elected an honorary fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.

Fortescue was appointed KCVO on the 1926 King's Birthday Honours List.

Personal life

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In 1914, Fortescue married Winifred Beech, daughter of the Revd Howard Beech, Rector of Great Bealings, Suffolk; they had no children. Lady Fortescue (who died in 1951) was a writer and actress. He died in Cannes on 22 October 1933 at the age of 73.[5][8]

Works

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  • John William Fortescue (1895). A History of the 17th Lancers, Duke of Cambridge's Own. Macmillan & Company, Limited.
  • Dr John William Fortescue (1895). Dundonald. Macmillan and Co.
  • 1897 The Story of a Red Deer
  • Dr John William Fortescue (1899). The Drummer's Coat. Macmillan.
  • 1899–1930 A History of the British Army (in thirteen volumes, taking the story up to 1870) Available online for downloading
  • Dr John William Fortescue (1909). The County Lieutenancies and the Army, 1803–1814. Macmillan and Company, limited.
  • Dr John William Fortescue (1912). The Royal Visit to India 1911–1912. Macmillan and Co.
  • Dr John William Fortescue (1916). The Three Pearls. St. Martin's.
  • Dr John William Fortescue (1924). My Native Devon. Macmillan and Company, limited.
  • Dr John William Fortescue (1925). Wellington. London.
  • Sir John William Fortescue (1928). Six British Soldiers. William & Norgate.
  • Sir John William Fortescue (1928). The Empire and the Army. Cassell and Company.
  • Sir John William Fortescue (1928). Historical and Military Essays. Macmillan and Company, Limited.
  • Sir John William Fortescue (1928). A Short Account of Canteens in the British Army. The University Press.
  • 1930–1932 Royal Army Service Corps: A History of Transport and Supply in the British Army
  • Sir John William Fortescue (1931). Following the Drum. W. Blackwood & sons ltd.
  • Sir John William Fortescue (1932). Marlborough. Peter Davies Limited.
  • Sir John William Fortescue (1933). Author and curator. W. Blackwood.
  • Sir John William Fortescue (1934). The Last Post. W. Blackwood.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Fortescue, Hon. Sir John William, (28 Dec. 1859–22 Oct. 1933), Hon. Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge; Librarian at Windsor Castle 1905–26". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u209604. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  2. ^ Bond, Brian (2004). "Fortescue, Sir John William (1859–1933)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  3. ^ "Sir John William Fortescue". Everything Exmoor. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
  4. ^ a b "Fortescue, the Hon. John William (FRTC878JW)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  5. ^ a b c "Sir John Fortescue". The Times. No. 46582. London. 23 October 1933.
  6. ^ Fortescue, John (1920). "The British Soldier and the Empire". Proceedings of the British Academy. 9: 409–429.
  7. ^ "List of Presidents". Royal Historical Society. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  8. ^ John William Fortescue and Exmoor Archived 9 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine
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Academic offices
Preceded by President of the Royal Historical Society
1921–1925
Succeeded by