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m Roman Spinner moved page James Francis Lydon to James Lydon (historian): while it is mentioned that subject's full name was "James Francis", he did not use it as his pen name which was "James" or "J. F.", nor as his academic/professional name
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{{Short description|Irish historian (1928-2013)}}
{{Use Irish English|date=November 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox writer
{{Infobox writer
|name = James Francis Lydon
|name = James Francis Lydon
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|image_size =
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|caption =
|caption =
|birth_date = 1928
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1928|05|12|df=y}}
|birth_place =
|birth_place = [[Galway]], Ireland
|death_date = 25 June 2013
|death_date = {{Death date and age|2013|06|25|1928|05|12|df=y}}
|death_place =
|death_place =
|resting_place =
|resting_place =
| language = English, Irish
| language = English, Irish
| subject = History
|citizenship = [[Republic of Ireland]]
|citizenship = [[Republic of Ireland]]
|alma_mater = [[Trinity College Dublin]]
|alma_mater = [[Trinity College Dublin]]
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'''James Francis Lydon''', (1928 - 25 June 2013), was an [[Ireland|Irish]] [[educator]] and [[historian]]. He served as the [[Lecky Professor of History]] at [[Trinity College, Dublin]], from 1980 to 1993, and authored numerous works, particularly on the [[Middle Ages|medieval]] [[history of Ireland]].
'''James Francis Lydon''' (12 May 1928<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lydon, James Francis Michael {{!}} Dictionary of Irish Biography |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/lydon-james-francis-michael-a10065 |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=www.dib.ie |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Maverick medieval historian and fellow of Trinity College Dublin |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/maverick-medieval-historian-and-fellow-of-trinity-college-dublin-1.1463059 |access-date=2023-08-28 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lydon, James F. 1928- {{!}} Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/lydon-james-f-1928 |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=www.encyclopedia.com}}</ref> – 25 June 2013) was an Irish educator and historian. He served as the [[Lecky Professor of History]] at [[Trinity College, Dublin]], from 1980 to 1993, and authored numerous works, particularly on the [[Middle Ages|medieval]] [[history of Ireland]].


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
⚫
Lydon was born to a large [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] family in [[Connemara]] in 1928, the son of a local baker. His mother raised him to be fluent in the [[Irish language]].<ref name=HI95>{{Cite journal |date=Spring 1995 |title=Interview with Professor James Lydon |journal=[[History Ireland]] |publisher=History Publications Ltd. |volume=3 |issue=1 |url=http://www.historyireland.com/early-modern-history-1500-1700/interview-with-professor-james-lydon-31/ |access-date=28 June 2014 }}</ref><ref name=IT2014>{{Cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/maverick-medieval-historian-and-fellow-of-trinity-college-dublin-1.1463059 | title=Maverick Medieval Historian and Fellow of Trinity College Dublin |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |date=13 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130714092823/https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/maverick-medieval-historian-and-fellow-of-trinity-college-dublin-1.1463059|archive-date=14 July 2013}}</ref>


⚫
Lydon studied both English and History at [[NUI Galway|University College Galway]], graduating in 1950.<ref name=HI95/> One of his external examiners was [[J. R. R. Tolkien]], who was so impressed with his work that he invited Lydon to tea after the university refused Tolkien permission to invite him for lunch.<ref name=IT2014/> After completing his B.A., Lydon stayed on at UCG to undertake research for a master's degree. His adviser, history department professor [[Mary Donovan O'Sullivan]], suggested to him that "Ireland's contribution to the military activities of the English crown in the thirteenth century might be a subject that would repay investigation." {{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} Lydon moved to England to attend the [[University of London]] and studied under the influential [[medievalist]] [[Sir Maurice Powicke]].<ref name=IT2014/>
⚫
Lydon was born to a large [[Catholic]] family in [[Connemara]] in 1928, the son of a local baker. His mother raised him to be fluent in [[Irish language]].<ref name=HI95>{{Cite journal |last= |first= |date=Spring 1995 |title=Interview with Professor James Lydon |journal=[[History Ireland]] |publisher=History Publications Ltd. |volume=3 |issue=1 |page= |url=http://www.historyireland.com/early-modern-history-1500-1700/interview-with-professor-james-lydon-31/ |accessdate=28 June 2014 }}</ref><ref name=IT2014>{{Cite news |title=Maverick Medieval Historian and Fellow of Trinity College Dublin |author= |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |date=13 July 2013 |page= |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-34887319.html |accessdate=28 June 2014 }}{{Subscription required|via=[[HighBeam Research]]}}</ref>

⚫
Lydon studied both English and History at [[University College Galway]] (now [[National University of Ireland, Galway|NUI]]), graduating in 1950<ref name=HI95/> and staying on to undertake research for a master's degree. His teacher, history department professor [[Mary Donovan O'Sullivan]], suggested to him that "Ireland's contribution to the military activities of the English crown in the thirteenth century might be a subject that would repay investigation." {{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} Lydon moved to England to attend the [[University of London]] and studied under the influential [[medievalist]] [[Sir Maurice Powicke]].<ref name=IT2014/>


==Career==
==Career==
In 1955, he completed his thesis, ''[http://www.worldcat.org/title/irelands-participation-in-the-military-activities-of-english-kings-in-the-thirteenth-and-early-fourteenth-century/ Ireland's participation in the military activities of English kings in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries]'', and it became the first of many published writings about the era.<ref name=IT2014/> Having a full year left on his Travelling Fellowship, he was advised by his mentor Powicke to "use the residue of the funding to travel on the continent, ... stay clear of archives ... read, visit galleries, listen to music, meet people and generally lift his eyes beyond the confines of the Record Office in Chancery lane." This experience "gave him an appreciation of European 'culture' in its broadest sense..." and enabled "... Lydon to bring the historiography of late medieval Ireland to maturity." {{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} Returning to Galway in 1956 he taught history via Irish and English and in 1959 moved to Dublin to lecture at [[Trinity College, Dublin|Trinity College]]. He became a full lecturer in 1962, a fellow in 1965, and an associated professor in 1969.
In 1955 he completed his thesis, "Ireland's participation in the military activities of English kings in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries." Revised for publication, it became the first of many scholarly contributions to the history of the era.<ref name=IT2014/> Having a full year left on his Travelling Fellowship after his studies were concluded, he was advised by his mentor Powicke to "use the residue of the funding to travel on the continent...stay clear of archives...read, visit galleries, listen to music, meet people and generally lift his eyes beyond the confines of the [Public] Record Office in Chancery Lane." This experience "gave him an appreciation of European 'culture' in its broadest sense" and enabled Lydon to "bring the historiography of late medieval Ireland to maturity." {{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} Returning to Galway in 1956 he taught history through the media of Irish and English and, in 1959, moved to Dublin to lecture at [[Trinity College, Dublin|Trinity College]]. He became a full lecturer in 1962, a Fellow in 1965, and an associate professor in 1969.


He served as an educator for thirty-three years, and was [[Lecky Professor of History]] at Trinity from 1980 until his retirement in 1993.<ref name=IT2014/>
He served as an educator for thirty-three years, and was [[Lecky Professor of History]] at Trinity from 1980 until his retirement in 1993.<ref name=IT2014/>


He was elected a Member of the [[Royal Irish Academy]] in 1967 and president of the [[Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland]] from 1981 to 1984.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://celtic2realms-medievalnews.blogspot.co.uk/2013_07_01_archive.html|title= Professor James Francis Michael Lydon: Biography and bibliography|accessdate= 30 October 2014}} </ref>
He was elected a Member of the [[Royal Irish Academy]] in 1967, and president of the [[Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland]] from 1981 to 1984.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://celtic2realms-medievalnews.blogspot.co.uk/2013_07_01_archive.html|title= Professor James Francis Michael Lydon: Biography and bibliography|access-date= 30 October 2014}}</ref>


==Works==
==Works==
Primarily an Irish medievalist, Lydon published his first major work, ''[http://www.worldcat.org/title/lordship-of-ireland-in-the-middle-ages/oclc/402454/editions?editionsView=true&referer=br The lordship of Ireland in the Middle Ages]'', in 1972.<ref name=IT2014/> In the 1980s, he served as a contributor to the ''Cambridge Historical Encyclopedia of Great Britain and Ireland''.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Cambridge Historical Encyclopedia of Great Britain and Ireland |editor1-last=Haigh |editor1-first=Christopher |coauthors= |editor1-link=Christopher Haigh |origyear=1985 |year=1990 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |isbn=9780521395526 |page=6 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=0NrVJb1rWq0C&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6 }}</ref> Lydon's other works include:
Primarily an Irish mediaevalist, Lydon published his first major work, ''[http://www.worldcat.org/title/lordship-of-ireland-in-the-middle-ages/oclc/402454/editions?editionsView=true&referer=br The lordship of Ireland in the Middle Ages]'', in 1972.<ref name=IT2014/> In the 1980s, he served as a contributor to the ''Cambridge Historical Encyclopedia of Great Britain and Ireland''.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Cambridge Historical Encyclopedia of Great Britain and Ireland |editor1-last=Haigh |editor1-first=Christopher |editor1-link=Christopher Haigh |orig-year=1985 |year=1990 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |isbn=9780521395526 |page=6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0NrVJb1rWq0C&pg=PA6 }}</ref> Lydon's other works include:


* ''[http://www.worldcat.org/title/gill-history-of-ireland/oclc/64287393/editions?editionsView=true&referer=br The Gill history of Ireland]'' (1972)
* ''[http://www.worldcat.org/title/gill-history-of-ireland/oclc/64287393/editions?editionsView=true&referer=br The Gill History of Ireland]'' (1972)
* ''[http://www.worldcat.org/title/ireland-in-the-later-middle-ages/oclc/937819/editions?editionsView=true&referer=br Ireland in the later Middle Ages]'' (1973)
* ''[http://www.worldcat.org/title/ireland-in-the-later-middle-ages/oclc/937819/editions?editionsView=true&referer=br Ireland in the Later Middle Ages]'' (1973)
* ‘Ireland and the English Crown, 1171-1541’ in IHS (Irish Historical Studies) xxix:115 (1995) [pp.] 281-94.
* ''[http://www.worldcat.org/title/law-and-disorder-in-thirteenth-century-ireland-the-dublin-parliament-of-1297/oclc/38114800/editions?editionsView=true&referer=br Law and disorder in thirteenth-century Ireland: the Dublin Parliament of 1297]'' (1997)
* ''[http://www.worldcat.org/title/law-and-disorder-in-thirteenth-century-ireland-the-dublin-parliament-of-1297/oclc/38114800/editions?editionsView=true&referer=br Law and disorder in thirteenth-century Ireland: the Dublin Parliament of 1297]'' (1997)
* ''[http://www.worldcat.org/title/making-of-ireland-from-ancient-times-to-the-present/oclc/38527889/editions?editionsView=true&referer=br The Making of Ireland: from ancient times to the present]'' (1998)
* ''[http://www.worldcat.org/title/making-of-ireland-from-ancient-times-to-the-present/oclc/38527889/editions?editionsView=true&referer=br The Making of Ireland: From Ancient Times to the Present]'' (1998)
* 'Richard II’s Expeditions to Ireland', in ''Government, War and Society in Medieval Ireland: Essays by [[Edmund Curtis]], A.J. Otway-Ruthven and James Lydon'', ed. [[Peter Crooks]] (Dublin, 2008).

==Personal life==
Lydon was unmarried. He battled depression in later life. He was fond of music, particularly opera.<ref name=IT2014/>


==References==
==References==
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==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* ''Government, War and Society in Medieval Ireland: Essays by Edmund Curtis, A.J. Otway-Ruthven and James Lydon'', edited by Peter Crooks. Four Courts Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1-84682-105-9.
* ''Government, War and Society in Medieval Ireland: Essays by Edmund Curtis, A.J. Otway-Ruthven and James Lydon'', edited by Peter Crooks. Four Courts Press, 2008. {{ISBN|978-1-84682-105-9}}.
* ''Colony & Frontier in Medieval England: Essays presented to J.F. Lydon'', edited by T. B. Barry, Frame, Katharine Simms. Hambledon Press, 1995. ISBN 9781852851224.
* ''Colony & Frontier in Medieval England: Essays presented to J.F. Lydon'', edited by T. B. Barry, Frame, Katharine Simms. Hambledon Press, 1995. {{ISBN|9781852851224}}.


==External links==
==External links==
* [https://www.tcd.ie/history/research/medieval-history-seminars.php The James Lydon Research Seminar in Medieval History] at Trinity College
* [https://www.tcd.ie/history/research/medieval-history-seminars.php The James Lydon Research Seminar in Medieval History] at Trinity College


{{Authority control|VIAF=34610558}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Lydon, James Francis
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Lydon, James
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Irish historian
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1928
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 25 June 2013
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lydon, James Francis}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lydon, James Francis}}
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:Alumni of University College Galway]]
[[Category:Academics of the University of Galway]]
[[Category:Irish educators]]
[[Category:Academics of Trinity College Dublin]]
[[Category:Irish historians]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Galway]]
[[Category:Irish scholars and academics]]
[[Category:20th-century Irish historians]]
[[Category:Academics of Trinity College, Dublin]]
[[Category:21st-century Irish historians]]
[[Category:People from County Galway]]
[[Category:Members of the Royal Irish Academy]]
[[Category:Scholars and academics from County Galway]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of London]]
[[Category:Alumni of Trinity College Dublin]]

Latest revision as of 19:36, 22 June 2024

James Francis Lydon
Born(1928-05-12)12 May 1928
Galway, Ireland
Died25 June 2013(2013-06-25) (aged 85)
LanguageEnglish, Irish
CitizenshipRepublic of Ireland
Alma materTrinity College Dublin
Subject

James Francis Lydon (12 May 1928[1][2][3] – 25 June 2013) was an Irish educator and historian. He served as the Lecky Professor of History at Trinity College, Dublin, from 1980 to 1993, and authored numerous works, particularly on the medieval history of Ireland.

Early life and education

[edit]

Lydon was born to a large Catholic family in Connemara in 1928, the son of a local baker. His mother raised him to be fluent in the Irish language.[4][5]

Lydon studied both English and History at University College Galway, graduating in 1950.[4] One of his external examiners was J. R. R. Tolkien, who was so impressed with his work that he invited Lydon to tea after the university refused Tolkien permission to invite him for lunch.[5] After completing his B.A., Lydon stayed on at UCG to undertake research for a master's degree. His adviser, history department professor Mary Donovan O'Sullivan, suggested to him that "Ireland's contribution to the military activities of the English crown in the thirteenth century might be a subject that would repay investigation." [citation needed] Lydon moved to England to attend the University of London and studied under the influential medievalist Sir Maurice Powicke.[5]

Career

[edit]

In 1955 he completed his thesis, "Ireland's participation in the military activities of English kings in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries." Revised for publication, it became the first of many scholarly contributions to the history of the era.[5] Having a full year left on his Travelling Fellowship after his studies were concluded, he was advised by his mentor Powicke to "use the residue of the funding to travel on the continent...stay clear of archives...read, visit galleries, listen to music, meet people and generally lift his eyes beyond the confines of the [Public] Record Office in Chancery Lane." This experience "gave him an appreciation of European 'culture' in its broadest sense" and enabled Lydon to "bring the historiography of late medieval Ireland to maturity." [citation needed] Returning to Galway in 1956 he taught history through the media of Irish and English and, in 1959, moved to Dublin to lecture at Trinity College. He became a full lecturer in 1962, a Fellow in 1965, and an associate professor in 1969.

He served as an educator for thirty-three years, and was Lecky Professor of History at Trinity from 1980 until his retirement in 1993.[5]

He was elected a Member of the Royal Irish Academy in 1967, and president of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland from 1981 to 1984.[6]

Works

[edit]

Primarily an Irish mediaevalist, Lydon published his first major work, The lordship of Ireland in the Middle Ages, in 1972.[5] In the 1980s, he served as a contributor to the Cambridge Historical Encyclopedia of Great Britain and Ireland.[7] Lydon's other works include:

Personal life

[edit]

Lydon was unmarried. He battled depression in later life. He was fond of music, particularly opera.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Lydon, James Francis Michael | Dictionary of Irish Biography". www.dib.ie. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Maverick medieval historian and fellow of Trinity College Dublin". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Lydon, James F. 1928- | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Interview with Professor James Lydon". History Ireland. 3 (1). History Publications Ltd. Spring 1995. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Maverick Medieval Historian and Fellow of Trinity College Dublin". The Irish Times. 13 July 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2013.
  6. ^ "Professor James Francis Michael Lydon: Biography and bibliography". Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  7. ^ Haigh, Christopher, ed. (1990) [1985]. The Cambridge Historical Encyclopedia of Great Britain and Ireland. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 6. ISBN 9780521395526.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Government, War and Society in Medieval Ireland: Essays by Edmund Curtis, A.J. Otway-Ruthven and James Lydon, edited by Peter Crooks. Four Courts Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1-84682-105-9.
  • Colony & Frontier in Medieval England: Essays presented to J.F. Lydon, edited by T. B. Barry, Frame, Katharine Simms. Hambledon Press, 1995. ISBN 9781852851224.
[edit]
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