Namier, Lewis Bernstein (1888-1960)

Polish-born British historian. His chief works, The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III 1929 and England in the Age of the American Revolution 1930, challenged accepted interpretations of 18th-century British history in terms of Whig-Tory rivalry. Knighted 1952.

He also made contributions to the study of 19th-century European history, in particular with 1848: The Revolution of the Intellectuals 1946, and wrote many essays and reviews collected in Avenues of History 1952, Personalities and Powers 1955, and Vanished Supremacies 1958.

After arriving in Britain 1906, Namier studied at Oxford. During World War I he worked in the Foreign Office, and thereafter in business, while preparing his two major studies of 18th-century British politics. Their success led to his appointment as professor of history at Manchester University 1931-53.