George Cawkwell

George Law Cawkwell

Map of Philip of Macedon's campaign in Greece, 339 BC (based on George Cawkwell, Philip of Macedon, Faber & Faber, 1978).
Born 25 October 1919
Auckland, New Zealand
Residence Oxford, England
Citizenship British
Education King's College, Auckland
Alma mater University of Auckland
Occupation Ancient historian
Years active 1949 – present
Employer University College, Oxford
Organization University of Oxford
Known for History of Greece in the 4th century BC
Notable work Philip of Macedon (1978)
Thucydides and the Peloponnesian War (1997)
The Greek Wars: The Failure of Persia (2005)
Religion Christian
Spouse(s) Pat Clarke (1945)
Children Simon Cawkwell (1946)
Awards Runciman Award (1998)

George Law Cawkwell (born 25 October 1919, Auckland, New Zealand[1]) is a classical scholar who has specialized in ancient history of Greece in the 4th century BC.[2][3]

George Cawkwell was educated at King's College, Auckland in New Zealand and became head boy there.[4] He attended the University of Auckland from 1938, gaining BA and MA degrees. He joined the army in 1942 during World War II and fought with the Fijian Infantry in the Solomons in 1944.

Cawkwell was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, studying at Christ Church. He played in the position of lock for the Scotland national rugby union team, gaining his cap in 1947.[1]

For most of his life, Cawkwell was a Fellow and Praelector in Ancient History of University College, Oxford.[5] He was a Fellow from 1949 to 1987 and then became an Emeritus Fellow. He authored a number of books on ancient history.[2][6] His students included the classical scholars Ernst Badian and Raphael Sealey.[4] He won the Runciman Award in 1998 for his book Thucydides and the Peloponnesian War.

Cawkwell was the first "Procurator" of University College, fund-raising for the 750th anniversary of the college in 1999.[5] The George Cawkwell Fellowship in Ancient History has been established at the college. A boat in the University College Boat Club is also named after him. His portrait was painted by the artist Daphne Todd.[7]

George Cawkwell married Pat Clarke in 1945.[4] The businessman and stock market commentator Simon Cawkwell (born 1946) is his son.

Selected books

Cawkwell's books include:[6]

See also

References

  1. 2.0 2.1 "George Cawkwell". Penguin Classics. Penguin Books, UK. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  2. Hornblower, Simon (January 1991). "George Cawkwell's contribution to Ancient History and to Oxford". Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies 37 (558): 1–12. doi:10.1111/j.2041-5370.1991.tb02201.x.
  3. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Fellows: George Cawkwell". University College Record: 7–9. 1987.
  4. 5.0 5.1 Darwall-Smith, Robin (2008). A History of University College, Oxford. Oxford University Press. pp. 479, 494, 499, 508, 510, 522, 523, 524. ISBN 978-0-19-928429-0.
  5. 6.0 6.1 "Books " "George Cawkwell"". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  6. Todd, Daphne. "Bill Sykes, Peter Strawson, George Cawkwell and Hartmut Pogge von Strandmann". Your Paintings. UK: BBC. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  7. Hagedorn, Anselm C. (31 October 2005). "Review: George Cawkwell, The Greek Wars. The Failure of Persia.". Bryn Mawr Classical Review. Bryn Mawr College. Retrieved April 3, 2012.