Henry de Beltgens Gibbins
Encyclopedia
Henry de Beltgens Gibbins (1865–1907) was a popular historian of 19th century England
whose books were bestsellers in the late Victorian
period; his Industry in England went to ten editions over fifteen years, and was published internationally.
On his father's side he was from a Huguenot
family which had moved from Hampshire to London in the late 18th century; his maternal grandfather Jean de Beltgens was a member of the House of Assembly
in Dominica, West Indies. He was educated at Bradford Grammar School
and at Wadham College, Oxford
, where he was Cobden Prizeman, and he was later ordained and awarded a D.Litt.
from University College Dublin. He was Assistant Master at Nottingham High School
from 1889 to 1895, Vice-Principal of Liverpool College from 1895 to 1899 and then Headmaster of King Charles I School
, Kidderminster
. His final appointment in 1906 was as Principal of Bishop's University
in Canada, but he resigned due to ill health and died soon after at the age of 42.
He was a prolific author, specializing in the economic, industrial and social history of England in the nineteenth century. As well as the books listed below, he edited Methuen's 'Social Questions of Today' series and their 'Commercial' series, contributed to Palgrave’s Dictionary of Political Economy and frequently wrote in the reviews.
He was married but had no children. His paternal grandfather, Samuel Gibbins (1808–1886), Master of the Carpenters' Company in London, also had a son John George Gibbins, FRIBA
, a noted architect in Brighton, whose descendants include the archaeologist and novelist David Gibbins
.
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...
whose books were bestsellers in the late Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
period; his Industry in England went to ten editions over fifteen years, and was published internationally.
On his father's side he was from a Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
family which had moved from Hampshire to London in the late 18th century; his maternal grandfather Jean de Beltgens was a member of the House of Assembly
House of Assembly
House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level....
in Dominica, West Indies. He was educated at Bradford Grammar School
Bradford Grammar School
Bradford Grammar School is a co-educational, independent school in Frizinghall, Bradford, West Yorkshire. Headmaster, Stephen Davidson is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference . The school was founded in 1548 and granted its Charter by King Charles II in 1662...
and at Wadham College, Oxford
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...
, where he was Cobden Prizeman, and he was later ordained and awarded a D.Litt.
Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...
from University College Dublin. He was Assistant Master at Nottingham High School
Nottingham High School
Nottingham High School is a British boys' independent school situated about a mile north of Nottingham city centre. It has around 900 pupils from ages 11 to 18 and there is the adjoining Nottingham High Junior School catering for younger boys and, from September 2008, the Lovell House...
from 1889 to 1895, Vice-Principal of Liverpool College from 1895 to 1899 and then Headmaster of King Charles I School
King Charles I School
King Charles I School is a voluntary controlled mixed school in the town of Kidderminster, in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England.-Present Day and OFSTED:...
, Kidderminster
Kidderminster
Kidderminster is a town, in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England. It is located approximately seventeen miles south-west of Birmingham city centre and approximately fifteen miles north of Worcester city centre. The 2001 census recorded a population of 55,182 in the town...
. His final appointment in 1906 was as Principal of Bishop's University
Bishop's University
Bishop's University is a predominantly undergraduate university in Lennoxville, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Bishop's is one of three universities in the province of Quebec that teach primarily in the English language...
in Canada, but he resigned due to ill health and died soon after at the age of 42.
He was a prolific author, specializing in the economic, industrial and social history of England in the nineteenth century. As well as the books listed below, he edited Methuen's 'Social Questions of Today' series and their 'Commercial' series, contributed to Palgrave’s Dictionary of Political Economy and frequently wrote in the reviews.
He was married but had no children. His paternal grandfather, Samuel Gibbins (1808–1886), Master of the Carpenters' Company in London, also had a son John George Gibbins, FRIBA
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
, a noted architect in Brighton, whose descendants include the archaeologist and novelist David Gibbins
David Gibbins
David Gibbins is a Canadian-born underwater archaeologist and a bestselling novelist.-Biography:He was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, to English parents who were both academic scientists. He travelled around the world with them by sea as a boy, including four years living in New Zealand,...
.
Sources
- Dictionary of National Biography
- The Times obituaries, 1907