# Goronwy Edwards

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Welsh historian

Sir Goronwy Edwards FBA FRHistS Born John Goronwy Edwards 14 May 1891 Died 20 June 1976(1976-06-20) (aged 85) Occupations Historian and academic Academic background Education Holywell Grammar School Alma mater Jesus College, Oxford Academic work Institutions Victoria University of Manchester Jesus College, Oxford Institute of Historical Research

**Sir John Goronwy Edwards** [FBA](/source/Fellow_of_the_British_Academy) [FRHistS](/source/Fellow_of_the_Royal_Historical_Society) (14 May 1891[1][2] – 20 June 1976) was a [Welsh](/source/Wales) historian.

## Early life

Edwards, who was proficient in [Welsh](/source/Welsh_language) before he could read English, was educated at [Holywell](/source/Holywell%2C_Flintshire) Grammar School before [matriculating](/source/Matriculation) at [Jesus College, Oxford](/source/Jesus_College%2C_Oxford), in 1909. His 1913 essay on [Danby](/source/Thomas_Osborne%2C_1st_Duke_of_Leeds) gained him [proxime accessit](/source/Proxime_accessit) in the [Stanhope prize competition](/source/Stanhope_prize_competition).[3]

## Career

After obtaining his degree in 1913, he worked for a time at [Manchester University](/source/Victoria_University_of_Manchester) under [T. F. Tout](/source/T._F._Tout).

During the [First World War](/source/First_World_War) he served with the [Royal Welch Fusiliers](/source/Royal_Welch_Fusiliers) in France and obtained the rank of captain.

In 1919, he returned to Jesus College as [Fellow](/source/Oxbridge_Fellow) and Tutor in History, where he specialised in medieval English and Welsh history, serving also as Senior Tutor for 13 years. He was highly regarded as a lecturer, tutor and supervisor of research students. He was joint editor of the *[English Historical Review](/source/English_Historical_Review)* from 1938 and was appointed a [Fellow of the British Academy](/source/Fellow_of_the_British_Academy) in 1943.

He had hoped to be appointed Principal of the college when it fell vacant on the death of [Alfred Hazel](/source/Alfred_Hazel) in 1944. Instead, the decision was taken to appoint [Frederick Ogilvie](/source/Frederick_Ogilvie) as principal, with Edwards becoming vice-principal.[4]

In 1948 after 29 years as a [Fellow](/source/Oxbridge_Fellow) of [Jesus College, Oxford](/source/Jesus_College%2C_Oxford), Edwards accepted the invitation to become Director of the [Institute of Historical Research](/source/Institute_of_Historical_Research) and Professor of History at the [University of London](/source/University_of_London). In addition to his continuing scholarship, he also presided over many committees with, it was said, "exemplary patience".[4]

Outside his university Edwards served on the [Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales](/source/Royal_Commission_on_the_Ancient_and_Historical_Monuments_of_Wales) and the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts.

He was [knighted](/source/Knight_Bachelor) in July 1960 shortly before his retirement. In retirement he served as president of the [Royal Historical Society](/source/Royal_Historical_Society) from 1961 to 1965[5] and was awarded the [Cymmrodorion](/source/Cymmrodorion) medal on his eightieth birthday in 1971 to mark his service to Wales.

## Death

He died on 20 June 1976 at the age of 85.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** *[1939 England and Wales Register](/source/1939_England_and_Wales_Register)*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** *England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** J. F. A. Mason, 'Edwards, Sir (John) Goronwy (1891–1976)’, rev. *Oxford Dictionary of National Biography*, Oxford University Press, 2004

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Times_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Times_4-1) "Sir Goronwy Edwards – A loyal and learned Welshman". *[The Times](/source/The_Times)*. 21 June 1976. p. 16.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["List of Presidents"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110716111002/http://www.royalhistoricalsociety.org/rhspresidents.doc). Royal Historical Society. Archived from [the original](http://www.royalhistoricalsociety.org/rhspresidents.doc) on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2010.

- A long series of letters from him to TF Tout, his former Manchester tutor, including many from the front line in World War I is in the T.F. Tout Collection, John Rylands Library, University of Manchester.

## External links

- [Works by or about Goronwy Edwards](https://archive.org/search.php?query=%28%28subject%3A%22Edwards%2C%20Goronwy%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Goronwy%20Edwards%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Edwards%2C%20Goronwy%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Goronwy%20Edwards%22%20OR%20title%3A%22Goronwy%20Edwards%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Edwards%2C%20Goronwy%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Goronwy%20Edwards%22%29%20OR%20%28%221891-1976%22%20AND%20Edwards%29%29%20AND%20%28-mediatype:software%29) at the [Internet Archive](/source/Internet_Archive)

Academic offices Preceded by David Knowles President of the Royal Historical Society 1961–1965 Succeeded by Robert Arthur Humphreys

v t e Presidents of the Royal Historical Society 1871–1872 George Grote 1873–1878 John Russell, 1st Earl Russell 1878–1891 Henry Bruce, 1st Baron Aberdare 1891–1899 Sir M. E. Grant Duff 1899–1901 Sir Adolphus Ward 1901–1905 Sir George Prothero 1905–1909 William Hunt 1909–1913 William Cunningham 1913–1917 Sir Charles Firth 1917–1921 Sir Charles Oman 1921–1925 Sir John Fortescue 1925–1929 Frederick Tout 1929–1933 Sir Richard Lodge 1933–1937 Sir F. M. Powicke 1937–1945 Sir Frank Stenton 1946–1949 Robert William Seton-Watson 1949–1953 Theodore Plucknett 1953–1957 Hale Bellot 1957–1961 David Knowles 1961–1965 Sir Goronwy Edwards 1965–1969 Robin Humphreys 1969–1973 Sir R. W. Southern 1973–1977 Sir Geoffrey Elton 1977–1981 Sir John Habakkuk 1981–1985 Sir J. C. Holt 1985–1989 Gerald Aylmer 1989–1993 Michael Thompson 1993–1997 Sir Rees Davies 1997–2001 Sir P. J. Marshall 2001–2005 Dame Janet Nelson 2005–2008 Martin Daunton 2009–2012 Colin Jones 2012–2016 Peter Mandler 2016–2020 Margot Finn 2020-2024 Emma Griffin 2024-present Lucy Noakes

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States Netherlands Sweden Vatican Israel People Trove Archaeology Data Service Other IdRef Open Library 2 SNAC Yale LUX

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