James Williamson (historian)
Encyclopedia
James Alexander Williamson (1886 – 31 December 1964) was a prominent English writer on maritime history
and expert on the John Cabot
voyages. He also wrote many other books on explorers, exploration and discovery. James Williamson wrote of James Cook
:
the greatest explorer of his age and the greatest maritime explorer of his country in any age.
, where he earned his B.A.
in 1906, his M.A.
in 1909 and was awarded a Ph.D.
in 1924 with a thesis on "The Caribbee Islands under the proprietary patents". He married Ruth Chappele.
, a post he held until 1937. His teaching career was interrupted in 1914–1919 by service in the British Army. In 1926, the University of London selected him as the first recipient of the Julian Corbett Prize in Naval History
. He was Ford's Lecturer in British History
at Oxford University in 1939.
He served as a vice-president of both the Hakluyt Society
and the Historical Association
. At the time of his death, he resided at 2 Laburnham Grove, Chichester
.
Maritime history
Maritime history is the study of human activity at sea. It covers a broad thematic element of history that often uses a global approach, although national and regional histories remain predominant...
and expert on the John Cabot
John Cabot
John Cabot was an Italian navigator and explorer whose 1497 discovery of parts of North America is commonly held to have been the first European encounter with the continent of North America since the Norse Vikings in the eleventh century...
voyages. He also wrote many other books on explorers, exploration and discovery. James Williamson wrote of James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
:
the greatest explorer of his age and the greatest maritime explorer of his country in any age.
Early life and education
The son of James Ireland Williamson, he was educated at Watford Grammar School and 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 earned his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1906, his M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1909 and was awarded a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1924 with a thesis on "The Caribbee Islands under the proprietary patents". He married Ruth Chappele.
Professional career
In 1910, he became an assistant master in history at Westminster City SchoolWestminster City School
Westminster City School is a voluntary aided Christian school for boys in Westminster, London. The school has 800 students on its roll, and it offers 105 of 130 places each year to boys practising the Christian faith in the Anglican dioceses of London and Southwark. The other 25 spaces are...
, a post he held until 1937. His teaching career was interrupted in 1914–1919 by service in the British Army. In 1926, the University of London selected him as the first recipient of the Julian Corbett Prize in Naval History
Julian Corbett Prize in Naval History
The Julian Corbett Prize in Modern Naval History was established in 1924 by Mr. H. E. Corbett in memory of his brother, the great naval historian Sir Julian Corbett . It was first awarded in 1926...
. He was Ford's Lecturer in British History
Ford Lectures
The Ford Lectures are a prestigious series of public lectures given annually in English or British History by a distinguished historian. Known commonly as "The Ford Lectures," they are properly titled "Ford's Lectures in British History" and they are given by a scholar elected to be "Ford's...
at Oxford University in 1939.
He served as a vice-president of both the Hakluyt Society
Hakluyt Society
Founded in 1846, the Hakluyt Society is a registered charity based in London, England, which seeks to advance knowledge and education by the publication of scholarly editions of primary records of voyages, travels and other geographical material...
and the Historical Association
Historical Association
The Historical Association is an organisation founded in 1906 and based in London, England. The goals of the Historical Association are to support "the study and enjoyment of history at all levels by creating an environment that promotes lifelong learning and provides for the evolving needs of...
. At the time of his death, he resided at 2 Laburnham Grove, Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
.
Published works
- Maritime Enterprise, 1485–1558. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913.
- The foundation and growth of the British Empire. London: Macmillan, 1916; 1953.
- English colonies in Guiana and on the Amazon: 1604–1668. Oxford: Clarendon press, 1923.
- Migration within the empire by E. A. Belcher and James A. Williamson. London: W. Collins, 1924.
- Europe overseas. London: Oxford University Press, 1925.
- The Caribbee islands under the proprietary patents. London: Oxford University Press, 1926.
- The Tercentenary of Barbados. Offprint from: Blackwood's MagazineBlackwood's MagazineBlackwood's Magazine was a British magazine and miscellany printed between 1817 and 1980. It was founded by the publisher William Blackwood and was originally called the Edinburgh Monthly Magazine. The first number appeared in April 1817 under the editorship of Thomas Pringle and James Cleghorn...
. February 1927.
- Sir John Hawkins: the time and the man. Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1927.
- Richard HakluytRichard HakluytRichard Hakluyt was an English writer. He is principally remembered for his efforts in promoting and supporting the settlement of North America by the English through his works, notably Divers Voyages Touching the Discoverie of America and The Principal Navigations, Voiages, Traffiques and...
and the English voyages, by George Bruner Parks; edited, with an introduction, by James A. Williamson. New York: American Geographical Society, 1928.
- The Voyages of the Cabots and the English Discovery of North America under Henry VIIHenry VII of EnglandHenry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
and Henry VIIIHenry VIII of EnglandHenry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
. London: Argonaut Press,1929, reprinted 1971.
- The Evolution of England : A Commentary on the Facts, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1931.
- A short history of British expansion. New York: Macmillan, 1931–34; 1938; 1941; 1945; 1953, 1967.
- The observations of Sir Richard Hawkins: edited from the text of 1622 with introduction, notes and appendices, by James A. Williamson ... Illustrated with four maps. London: Argonaut, 1933.
- The voyages of John and Sebastian Cabot . London: Published for the Historical Association by G. Bell, 1937.
- The Age of Drake. London: Adam & Charles Black, 1938; 1946, 1960.
- A voyage to New Holland by William DampierWilliam DampierWilliam Dampier was an English buccaneer, sea captain, author and scientific observer...
; edited, with introduction, notes and illustrative documents, by James A. Williamson. London: The Argonaut Press, 1939.
- The Ocean in English History: Being the Ford LecturesFord LecturesThe Ford Lectures are a prestigious series of public lectures given annually in English or British History by a distinguished historian. Known commonly as "The Ford Lectures," they are properly titled "Ford's Lectures in British History" and they are given by a scholar elected to be "Ford's...
. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1941; 1948.
- Great Britain and the empire: a discursive history. London : A. & C. Black, 1944.
- Cook and the Opening of the Pacific. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1946
- The British Empire and commonwealth: a history for senior forms. London: Macmillan, 1946; 1952.
- Common errors in history by members of the Historical AssociationHistorical AssociationThe Historical Association is an organisation founded in 1906 and based in London, England. The goals of the Historical Association are to support "the study and enjoyment of history at all levels by creating an environment that promotes lifelong learning and provides for the evolving needs of...
. London: Pub. for the Historical Association by P. S. King & Staples limited, 1945.
- Hawkins of Plymouth: a new history of Sir John Hawkins and of the other members of his family prominent in Tudor England. London: Black, 1949.
- Sir Francis Drake. London: Collins, 1951.
- The Tudor age. London and New York: Longmans, Green, 1953, 1964, 1979.
- The English ChannelEnglish ChannelThe English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
: a history. London: Collins, 1959.
- A Notebook of Commonwealth history. 1959; London: Macmillan; New York: St. Martin's Press., 1967.
- The Cabot voyages and Bristol discovery under Henry VIIHenry VII of EnglandHenry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
, with cartography of the voyages by R. A. Skelton. Cambridge: Published for the Hakluyt SocietyHakluyt SocietyFounded in 1846, the Hakluyt Society is a registered charity based in London, England, which seeks to advance knowledge and education by the publication of scholarly editions of primary records of voyages, travels and other geographical material...
at the Cambridge University PressCambridge University PressCambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
, 1962.
- Great Britain and the Commonwealth. London: Black, 1965.
- Westward ho! by Charles KingsleyCharles KingsleyCharles Kingsley was an English priest of the Church of England, university professor, historian and novelist, particularly associated with the West Country and northeast Hampshire.-Life and character:...
; introduction by James A. Williamson. London: Dent; New York: Dutton, 1976.
- In addition, he wasa regular contributor to Blackwood's MagazineBlackwood's MagazineBlackwood's Magazine was a British magazine and miscellany printed between 1817 and 1980. It was founded by the publisher William Blackwood and was originally called the Edinburgh Monthly Magazine. The first number appeared in April 1817 under the editorship of Thomas Pringle and James Cleghorn...
, The Geographical Journal, and HistoryHistoryHistory is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. He also contributed to The Cambridge History of the British Empire and Johnson's England.