George Forrest (historian)
Encyclopedia
William George Grieve Forrest, MA (24 September 1925 – 14 October 1997), known as George Forrest, was Wykeham Professor of Ancient History in the University of Oxford
.
and educated at University College School
, Hampstead
.
In 1943 he joined the RAF, and in the following years of war
and post-War liberation he served in France and Belgium.
Forrest entered New College
as a scholar in 1947, took a first in Classical Moderations
in 1949, and another in Literae Humaniores
in 1951. In his final term he won the Derby Scholarship, usually awarded for travel abroad.
at Wadham College
, which he held until 1977.
In 1977 he was elected Wykeham Professor of Ancient History and accordingly became a Fellow of New College
, where he remained until his retirement in 1992.
from the Greek military junta of 1967-1974
.
He was also a strong supporter of the campaign to return the Elgin Marbles
to Athens
, and was one of the original members of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles
.
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
Early life and education
George Forrest was born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and educated at University College School
University College School
University College School, generally known as UCS, is an Independent school charity situated in Hampstead, north west London, England. The school was founded in 1830 by University College London and inherited many of that institution's progressive and secular views...
, Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
.
In 1943 he joined the RAF, and in the following years of war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and post-War liberation he served in France and Belgium.
Forrest entered New College
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
as a scholar in 1947, took a first in Classical Moderations
Honour Moderations
Honour Moderations are a first set of examinations at Oxford University in England during the first part of the degree course for some courses ....
in 1949, and another in Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores is the name given to an undergraduate course focused on Classics at Oxford and some other universities.The Latin name means literally "more humane letters", but is perhaps better rendered as "Advanced Studies", since humaniores has the sense of "more refined" or "more learned",...
in 1951. In his final term he won the Derby Scholarship, usually awarded for travel abroad.
Academic career
In 1951 he was elected to a Tutorial Fellowship in Ancient HistoryAncient history
Ancient history is the study of the written past from the beginning of recorded human history to the Early Middle Ages. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, with Cuneiform script, the oldest discovered form of coherent writing, from the protoliterate period around the 30th century BC...
at Wadham College
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
, which he held until 1977.
In 1977 he was elected Wykeham Professor of Ancient History and accordingly became a Fellow of New College
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, where he remained until his retirement in 1992.
Political views
Forrest was fiercely political and liberal in his views and worked tirelessly to free GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
from the Greek military junta of 1967-1974
Greek military junta of 1967-1974
The Greek military junta of 1967–1974, alternatively "The Regime of the Colonels" , or in Greece "The Junta", and "The Seven Years" are terms used to refer to a series of right-wing military governments that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974...
.
He was also a strong supporter of the campaign to return the Elgin Marbles
Elgin Marbles
The Parthenon Marbles, forming a part of the collection known as the Elgin Marbles , are a collection of classical Greek marble sculptures , inscriptions and architectural members that originally were part of the Parthenon and other buildings on the Acropolis of Athens...
to Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, and was one of the original members of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles
British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles
The British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles is a group of British people who support the return of the Parthenon marbles to Athens, Greece....
.
Select works
- The Emergence of Greek Democracy (1966)
- A History of Sparta, 950-192 B.C. (1968)