Thomas Millar
Encyclopedia
Thomas Bruce "T.B." Millar AO
(18 October 1925 – 5 June 1994) was an Australian historian
, political scientist and a major figure in the development of strategic studies in Australia
.
Millar was born in Kalamunda
, Western Australia
. He was educated at Guildford Grammar School
in Perth and the Universities of Western Australia
, Melbourne
and London
. He was a graduate of the Royal Military College
, Duntroon, and served in the Australian Army
in 1943-1950.
After several years as a schoolteacher, he joined the staff of the Department of International Relations at the Australian National University
in 1962. He was a Professorial Fellow in the Department from 1968 onwards and Head of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre (SDSC)
in 1966-1971 and 1982-1984. He was Director of the Australian Institute of International Affairs
, 1969-1976. In 1985 Millar was seconded to London University as Professor of Australian Studies
and the foundation Head of the Australian Studies Centre (then part of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies
; now the Menzies Centre for Australian Studies at King's College London
). Following his retirement in 1990, he remained in London until his death and held part-time positions at the London School of Economics
and King's College London
.
Millar was made a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
in 1982 and an Officer of the Order of Australia
in 1983. He married Ann Drake-Brockman in 1951 and they had two daughters and one son. The marriage was dissolved in 1986. He re-married in 1990. A Christian Scientist and both a proud Australian and Western Australian, he would also proudly remind people of his Scottish ancestry - as evidenced by the spelling of his surname with the Scottish `ar' ending.
Millar was a prolific writer on international relations and defence and strategic studies. In honour of his work in this field, the Graduate Studies in Strategy and Defence program (based in the SDSC) offers up to three T.B. Millar Scholarships each year to outstanding students.
major works of Thomas Millar in his life
In 1995 a book of essays was published in his honour, edited by Coral Bell, entitled Nation, region and context: studies in peace and war. He was a man of dignity and a poet of English literature.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(18 October 1925 – 5 June 1994) was an Australian 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...
, political scientist and a major figure in the development of strategic studies in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Millar was born in Kalamunda
Kalamunda, Western Australia
-Transport:Kalamunda Road serves as a major access road for Perth Airport, and provides the foothills suburbs with access to the Perth central business district....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. He was educated at Guildford Grammar School
Guildford Grammar School
Guildford Grammar School, informally known as Guildford Grammar, Guildford or GGS, is an independent, day and boarding school for boys situated in Guildford, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia....
in Perth and the Universities of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
, Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
and London
University 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...
. He was a graduate of the Royal Military College
Royal Military College, Duntroon
The Royal Military College, Duntroon is the Australian Army's officer training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory, in 1911 and is situated on picturesque grounds at the foot of Mount Pleasant near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence...
, Duntroon, and served in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
in 1943-1950.
After several years as a schoolteacher, he joined the staff of the Department of International Relations at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
in 1962. He was a Professorial Fellow in the Department from 1968 onwards and Head of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre (SDSC)
Strategic and Defence Studies Centre
The Strategic and Defence Studies Centre is a university centre that was situated in the former Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies at the Australian National University. It is Australia's oldest-established centre for the study of strategic, defence and wider security issues and a...
in 1966-1971 and 1982-1984. He was Director of the Australian Institute of International Affairs
Australian Institute of International Affairs
The Australian Institute of International Affairs is a non-profit think tank based in Australia. Established in 1924 and formed as a national body in 1933, the organisation endeavours to promote interest in and understanding of international affairs...
, 1969-1976. In 1985 Millar was seconded to London University as Professor of Australian Studies
Australian studies
-Subfields:*Australian Aboriginals *Australian languages*History of Australia*Australian literature*Politics of Australia*Economy of Australia*Culture of Australia-Institutions:...
and the foundation Head of the Australian Studies Centre (then part of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies
Institute of Commonwealth Studies
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies, abbreviated to ICS, was founded by the University of London in 1949 to promote academic study of the Commonwealth of Nations and its constituent countries. It became part of the School of Advanced Study in 1994...
; now the Menzies Centre for Australian Studies at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
). Following his retirement in 1990, he remained in London until his death and held part-time positions at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
and King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
.
Millar was made a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia is an autonomous, non-governmental organisation, devoted to the advancement of knowledge and research in the social sciences. It was established in 1971...
in 1982 and an Officer of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in 1983. He married Ann Drake-Brockman in 1951 and they had two daughters and one son. The marriage was dissolved in 1986. He re-married in 1990. A Christian Scientist and both a proud Australian and Western Australian, he would also proudly remind people of his Scottish ancestry - as evidenced by the spelling of his surname with the Scottish `ar' ending.
Millar was a prolific writer on international relations and defence and strategic studies. In honour of his work in this field, the Graduate Studies in Strategy and Defence program (based in the SDSC) offers up to three T.B. Millar Scholarships each year to outstanding students.
major works of Thomas Millar in his life
- Australia's defence (1965)
- The Commonwealth and the United Nations (1967)
- Australia's defence policies 1945-65 (1968)
- Australia's foreign policy (1968)
- Australia in peace and war (1978)
- The East-West strategic balance (1981)
- South African dilemmas (1985).
In 1995 a book of essays was published in his honour, edited by Coral Bell, entitled Nation, region and context: studies in peace and war. He was a man of dignity and a poet of English literature.