Peter Brunt
Encyclopedia
Peter Astbury Brunt FBA (23 June 1917 in Coulsdon
, Surrey
, England
– 5 November 2005 in Oxford
) was an ancient historian at Oxford University.
Brunt, the son of a Methodist minister, was educated at Ipswich School
and Oriel College, Oxford
, graduating in 1939.
During World War II
Brunt served in the Ministry of Shipping. He began his academic career at St Andrew's University before returning to Oriel College as Fellow
from 1951 until 1968 when he moved to Cambridge
to become the Senior Bursar
at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge.
In 1970 Brunt returned to Oxford as a Fellow of Brasenose College to take up the Camden Professorship of Ancient History
until 1982.
Brunt was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 1969 and was president of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies from 1980 to 1983.
Brunt's magnum opus
was his 1971 study of the Roman working classes: Italian manpower 225 BC-AD 14.
Coulsdon
Coulsdon is a town on the southernmost boundary of the London Borough of Croydon. It is surrounded by the Metropolitan Green Belt of the Farthing Down, Coulsdon Common and Kenley Common...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
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...
– 5 November 2005 in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
) was an ancient historian at Oxford University.
Brunt, the son of a Methodist minister, was educated at Ipswich School
Ipswich School
Ipswich School is a co-educational public school for girls and boys aged 3 to 18. Situated in Suffolk, England in the town of Ipswich, it was founded in its current form as The King's School, Ipswich by Thomas Wolsey in 1528....
and Oriel College, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, graduating in 1939.
During World War II
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...
Brunt served in the Ministry of Shipping. He began his academic career at St Andrew's University before returning to Oriel College as Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
from 1951 until 1968 when he moved to Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
to become the Senior Bursar
Bursar
A bursar is a senior professional financial administrator in a school or university.Billing of student tuition accounts are the responsibility of the Office of the Bursar. This involves sending bills and making payment plans with the ultimate goal of getting the student accounts paid off...
at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge.
In 1970 Brunt returned to Oxford as a Fellow of Brasenose College to take up the Camden Professorship of Ancient History
Camden Professor of Ancient History
The Camden Professorship of Ancient History at the University of Oxford was established in 1622 by William Camden, Clarenceux King of Arms, and endowed with the income of the manor of Bexley. The Chair has been attached to Brasenose College since 1877...
until 1982.
Brunt was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 1969 and was president of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies from 1980 to 1983.
Brunt's magnum opus
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
was his 1971 study of the Roman working classes: Italian manpower 225 BC-AD 14.
Selected works
- Italian manpower 225 B.C.–A.D. 14. Clarendon Press, Oxford 1971.
- Social conflicts in the Roman republic. Chatto & Windus, London 1971.
- The fall of the Roman Republic and related essays. Clarendon Press, Oxford 1988.
- Roman imperial themes. Clarendon Press, Oxford 1990.
- Studies in Greek history and thought. Clarendon Press, Oxford 1993.