R. B. McDowell
Encyclopedia
Robert Brendan McDowell MA, PhD, Litt.D, LLD, MRIA
, FTCD, was an Irish historian. He was a Fellow Emeritus and a former Associate Professor of History at Trinity College, Dublin
. He was born in Belfast
. He was referred to colloquially as "RB" or "McDowell".
, where he discovered his love of history. Here he met T. W. Moody, later an esteemed colleague in the History department at Trinity. He was first appointed a lecturer in Trinity in 1945, and for 13 years (1956–1969) was the Junior Dean of Students, or "Dean of Discipline", a role that involved disciplining students in the tumultuous 1960s and resulted in many amusing anecdotes. He resided in the college until the age of 94, when he retired to Celbridge
.
In 2007, The College Historical Society of which McDowell was a vice-president unveiled a portrait of McDowell, which can be seen in the Graduates' Memorial Building
, alongside Douglas Hyde
& Theobald Wolfe Tone
, amongst others.
diction
and his ability to talk knowledgeably at great length. Hundreds of anecdotes by former colleagues and students were published in 2 volumes after his retirement:
Autobiography
Royal Irish Academy
The Royal Irish Academy , based in Dublin, is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is one of Ireland's premier learned societies and cultural institutions and currently has around 420 Members, elected in...
, FTCD, was an Irish historian. He was a Fellow Emeritus and a former Associate Professor of History at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. He was born in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. He was referred to colloquially as "RB" or "McDowell".
University career
McDowell was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical InstitutionRoyal Belfast Academical Institution
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is a Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Locally referred to as Inst, the school educates boys from ages 11–18...
, where he discovered his love of history. Here he met T. W. Moody, later an esteemed colleague in the History department at Trinity. He was first appointed a lecturer in Trinity in 1945, and for 13 years (1956–1969) was the Junior Dean of Students, or "Dean of Discipline", a role that involved disciplining students in the tumultuous 1960s and resulted in many amusing anecdotes. He resided in the college until the age of 94, when he retired to Celbridge
Celbridge
Celbridge is a town and townland on the River Liffey in County Kildare, Ireland. It is west of Dublin. As a town within the Dublin Metropolitan Area and the Greater Dublin Area, it is located at the intersection of the R403 and R405 regional roads....
.
In 2007, The College Historical Society of which McDowell was a vice-president unveiled a portrait of McDowell, which can be seen in the Graduates' Memorial Building
Graduates' Memorial Building
The Graduates Memorial Building is located in Trinity College Dublin. It is a neo-Gothic Victorian building designed by Sir Thomas Drew in 1892. Its construction was largely financed by subscriptions from graduates, and was finished in 1904....
, alongside Douglas Hyde
Douglas Hyde
Douglas Hyde , known as An Craoibhín Aoibhinn , was an Irish scholar of the Irish language who served as the first President of Ireland from 1938 to 1945...
& Theobald Wolfe Tone
Theobald Wolfe Tone
Theobald Wolfe Tone or Wolfe Tone , was a leading Irish revolutionary figure and one of the founding members of the United Irishmen and is regarded as the father of Irish Republicanism. He was captured by British forces at Lough Swilly in Donegal and taken prisoner...
, amongst others.
Books about McDowell
As well as his scholarship, McDowell became celebrated for his eccentric dress, his UlsterUlster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
diction
Diction
Diction , in its original, primary meaning, refers to the writer's or the speaker's distinctive vocabulary choices and style of expression in a poem or story...
and his ability to talk knowledgeably at great length. Hundreds of anecdotes by former colleagues and students were published in 2 volumes after his retirement:
- The Junior Dean, RB McDowell - Encounters with a Legend (Lilliput 2003) to celebrate his 90th birthday;
- The Magnificent McDowell - Trinity in the Golden Era (2006). Both books are edited by Anne Leonard, a graduate of Trinity College Dublin.
Autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
- McDowell on McDowell, memoirs; Lilliput Press, Dublin (2008).