John Forsdyke
Encyclopedia
Sir John Forsdyke KCB
(12 September 1883 – 3 December 1979) was Director and Principal Librarian of the British Museum
from 1936 to 1950.
Forsdyke was educated at Christ's Hospital
and then at Keble College, Oxford
, where he was a scholar
. He joined the British Museum
in 1907, before serving in the Royal Field Artillery
as a captain between 1914 and 1919 in the First World War. He edited the Journal of Hellenic Studies
from 1912 to 1923. After serving as Keeper of Greek and Roman Antiquities at the British Museum from 1932 to 1936, he was appointed Director and Principal Librarian
in 1936, retiring in 1950. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in 1937, and was also an Honorary Fellow of Keble College. He died on 3 December 1979.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(12 September 1883 – 3 December 1979) was Director and Principal Librarian of the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
from 1936 to 1950.
Forsdyke was educated at Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital is an English coeducational independent day and boarding school with Royal Charter located in the Sussex countryside just south of Horsham in Horsham District, West Sussex, England...
and then at Keble College, Oxford
Keble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
, where he was a scholar
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
. He joined the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
in 1907, before serving in the Royal Field Artillery
Royal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
as a captain between 1914 and 1919 in the First World War. He edited the Journal of Hellenic Studies
Journal of Hellenic Studies
The Journal of Hellenic Studies is a peer-reviewed academic journal which contains articles that pertain to Hellenic studies, i.e. the language, literature, history, and archaeology of the ancient Greek world, and reviews of recent books of importance to Hellenic studies. It is published annually...
from 1912 to 1923. After serving as Keeper of Greek and Roman Antiquities at the British Museum from 1932 to 1936, he was appointed Director and Principal Librarian
Director of the British Museum
The Director of the British Museum is the head of the British Museum in London, a post currently held by Neil MacGregor. He is responsible for that institution's general administration and reports its accounts to the British Government...
in 1936, retiring in 1950. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in 1937, and was also an Honorary Fellow of Keble College. He died on 3 December 1979.