Basil Greenhill
Encyclopedia
Dr. Basil Jack Greenhill (26 February 1920, Bristol
- 8 April 2003), was a diplomat, museum director and historian.
He went to Bristol Grammar School
, before reading philosophy, politics and economics at Bristol University
, but his time there was interrupted by wartime naval service. In the navy, he rose from rating to lieutenant, working at the radar research establishment at Malvern, and testing radar on bombers. He emerged in 1946 as a lieutenant, and on the completion of his degree he joined what became the Commonwealth Relations Office, where he stayed until 1966.
In 1967 he became the Director of the National Maritime Museum
, Greenwich, England, until 1983. He was also the author of over forty books and numerous articles on maritime history, many of them produced in collaboration with his second wife, Ann Giffard. His best-known book was his two-volume The Merchant Schooners (1951-57). He also published Westcountrymen In Prince Edward's Isle (1967), on Devon shipbuilders in Canada, and Boats And Boatmen Of Pakistan (1971).
In 1980, Dr Greenhill received a PhD from Bristol University on his published work, and honorary doctorates from Plymouth and Hull in 1996 and 2002.
Dr. Greenhill died at St. Dominick, Cornwall on 8 April 2003.
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
- 8 April 2003), was a diplomat, museum director and historian.
He went to Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England. The school was founded in 1532 by two brothers, Robert and Nicholas Thorne....
, before reading philosophy, politics and economics at Bristol University
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
, but his time there was interrupted by wartime naval service. In the navy, he rose from rating to lieutenant, working at the radar research establishment at Malvern, and testing radar on bombers. He emerged in 1946 as a lieutenant, and on the completion of his degree he joined what became the Commonwealth Relations Office, where he stayed until 1966.
In 1967 he became the Director of the National Maritime Museum
National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England is the leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom and may be the largest museum of its kind in the world. The historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, it also incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich,...
, Greenwich, England, until 1983. He was also the author of over forty books and numerous articles on maritime history, many of them produced in collaboration with his second wife, Ann Giffard. His best-known book was his two-volume The Merchant Schooners (1951-57). He also published Westcountrymen In Prince Edward's Isle (1967), on Devon shipbuilders in Canada, and Boats And Boatmen Of Pakistan (1971).
In 1980, Dr Greenhill received a PhD from Bristol University on his published work, and honorary doctorates from Plymouth and Hull in 1996 and 2002.
Dr. Greenhill died at St. Dominick, Cornwall on 8 April 2003.