G.O. Sayles
Encyclopedia
George Osborne Sayles better known as G.O. Sayles, was an English
historian
best known for his work concerning medieval English law courts and the early English Parliaments
.
. He studied at the University of Glasgow
and then University College London
.
1953-62; Vice-President, Selden Society 1954-86; FBA 1962; Kenan Professor of History, New York University 1967-68.
His most important works were The King's Parliament of England and his work on the translation of the Fleta
.
His long time writing partner was Henry Gerald Richardson.
in collaboration with H.G. Richardson
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
best known for his work concerning medieval English law courts and the early English Parliaments
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
.
Early life
He attended Ilkeston Grammar SchoolIlkeston Grammar School
Ilkeston Grammar School was a selective co-educational secondary school, admission being dependent on passing the eleven-plus examination. It stood on King George Avenue, Ilkeston, in the south east of Derbyshire in the East Midlands of England....
. He studied at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
and then University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
Career
During his lifetime he held the following positions: Assistant in History, Glasgow University 1924-25, Lecturer 1925-34, Senior Lecturer 1934-45; Professor of Modern History, Queen's University Belfast 1945-53; Burnett-Fletcher Professor of History, University of AberdeenUniversity of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
1953-62; Vice-President, Selden Society 1954-86; FBA 1962; Kenan Professor of History, New York University 1967-68.
His most important works were The King's Parliament of England and his work on the translation of the Fleta
Fleta
Fleta is a treatise, written in Latin, with the sub-title seu Commentarius juris Anglicani, on the common law of England. The anonymous author of the book is sometimes referred to as "Fleta", although this is not in fact a person's name...
.
His long time writing partner was Henry Gerald Richardson.
Partial bibliography
- The Medieval Foundations of England (Second edition 1950)
- The King's Parliament of England (1974)
- The functions of the medieval parliament of England (1987)
in collaboration with H.G. Richardson
- The Irish Parliament in the Middle Ages (1952)
- Fleta translation (1954–84)
- The Administration of Ireland, 1172-1377 (1963)
- The English parliament in the Middle Ages (1981)