James Francis McMillan
Encyclopedia
James Francis McMillan was a Scottish
historian
and author. He will be remembered as the head of the History Department of Strathclyde University ,as a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
and as Professor of History at Edinburgh University.
on 10 April 1948. He grew up in Paisley and attended St Mirin's Academy
.
McMillan graduated in Modern History from the University of Glasgow
in 1969 and obtained his doctorate degree from Balliol College, Oxford.
. He was a lecturer at York University
from 1972 to 1992 and a professor of European history at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, where he headed the Department of History. In 1996, McMillan was named a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
. Three years later, in 1999, he was appointed to the Richard Pares chair of history at Edinburgh University.
at his home in Airdrie
. His funeral mass
took place at St Mirin's Cathedral
in Paisley where the eulogy
was given by Professor Tom Devine
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
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...
and author. He will be remembered as the head of the History Department of Strathclyde University ,as a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
and as Professor of History at Edinburgh University.
Early years
James Francis McMillan 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...
on 10 April 1948. He grew up in Paisley and attended St Mirin's Academy
St Mirin's Academy
St Mirin's Academy was a Roman Catholic senior secondary school for boys founded in 1922 in Paisley, Scotland and dedicated to St Mirin, the patron saint of the town and of the Diocese of Paisley. The original buildings were located in East Buchanan Street next to St Mirin's Church. In 1933 the...
.
McMillan graduated in Modern History from 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...
in 1969 and obtained his doctorate degree from Balliol College, Oxford.
Academic career
McMillan was a specialist in the history of modern FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He was a lecturer at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
from 1972 to 1992 and a professor of European history at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, where he headed the Department of History. In 1996, McMillan was named a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
. Three years later, in 1999, he was appointed to the Richard Pares chair of history at Edinburgh University.
Death and legacy
McMillan died at the age of 61 on 22 February 2010 of cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at his home in Airdrie
Airdrie, North Lanarkshire
Airdrie is a town within North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It lies on a plateau roughly 400 ft above sea level, and is approximately 12 miles east of Glasgow city centre. Airdrie forms part of a conurbation with its neighbour Coatbridge, in the former district known as the Monklands. As of 2006,...
. His funeral mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
took place at St Mirin's Cathedral
St Mirin's Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Saint Mirin in Paisley, dedicated to Saint Mirin the patron saint of Paisley, is the mother church of the Catholic Diocese of Paisley and is the seat of the Bishop of Paisley.-History:...
in Paisley where the eulogy
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
was given by Professor Tom Devine
Tom Devine
Thomas Martin "Tom" Devine OBE FRSE FRHistS FBA is a Scottish historian. His main research interest is the history of the Scottish nation since c.1600 and its global connections and impact....
.
Works
- Housewife or Harlot: The Place of Women in French Society, 1870-1940. (1981)
- Dreyfus to De Gaulle: Politics and Society in France 1898-1969. (1985)
- France and Women, 1789-1914. (2000)