Cyril Philips
Encyclopedia
Sir Cyril Henry Philips, December 27 1912 – December 29 2005, born in Worcester
and knighted in 1974 was a noted historian and academic director.
He studied at Liverpool University, then the School of Oriental Studies in London where he wrote a history thesis on the East India Company
, later published as "The East India Company: 1784–1834" in 1940 and described as "a rich Namier-like analysis of the various interests in the court of directors as well as a study of its operations".
During the Second World War, he served in the Army Education Corps, ending the war as a lieutenant colonel.
He joined the School of Oriental and African Studies
(SOAS), and soon became professor and head of the history department.
Directorship of the School of Oriental and African Studies
In 1956 he became director of SOAS, succeeding Sir Ralph Turner, where he "...virtually remade the school..." in the following years.
, where he was involved in controversial reforms, and chaired a royal commission
into the police and criminal evidence system, the police complaints board and reviewed the Prevention of Terrorism Act
.
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
and knighted in 1974 was a noted historian and academic director.
Early life
His father had worked as an engine driver on the Indian railways, and Philips in the 1920s spent some years in BiharBihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
He studied at Liverpool University, then the School of Oriental Studies in London where he wrote a history thesis on the East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
, later published as "The East India Company: 1784–1834" in 1940 and described as "a rich Namier-like analysis of the various interests in the court of directors as well as a study of its operations".
During the Second World War, he served in the Army Education Corps, ending the war as a lieutenant colonel.
He joined the School of Oriental and African Studies
School of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
(SOAS), and soon became professor and head of the history department.
Directorship of the School of Oriental and African StudiesSchool of Oriental and African StudiesThe School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
In 1956 he became director of SOAS, succeeding Sir Ralph Turner, where he "...virtually remade the school..." in the following years.Later roles
In 1971 he was appointed vice chancellor of the University of LondonUniversity of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, where he was involved in controversial reforms, and chaired a royal commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
into the police and criminal evidence system, the police complaints board and reviewed the Prevention of Terrorism Act
Prevention of Terrorism Act
Prevention of Terrorism Act could refer to four different sets of Acts of Parliament, in three different countries:* Prevention of Terrorism Acts, passed between 1974 and 1989 to deal with terrorism in Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom...
.