B. H. G. Wormald facts for kids
Thomas Brian Harvey Goodwin Wormald (born 24 July 1912 – died 22 March 2005) was an important British historian. He was known for his studies of 17th-century England.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Thomas Wormald was born in 1912. His father was a priest in the Church of England in a town called Solihull, Warwickshire.
Thomas went to a famous school called Harrow School. Later, he studied at Peterhouse, Cambridge University. He was a brilliant student and earned top grades in history. He also won several academic awards.
After Peterhouse, he continued his studies at St John's College, Cambridge. In 1938, he returned to Peterhouse. A historian named Herbert Butterfield greatly influenced him. Thomas Wormald admired how Butterfield encouraged people to question old ideas about history.
Religious Life and Conversion
During World War II, Thomas Wormald became an Anglican deacon, which is a type of church minister. He also attended a special college for religious studies. Later, he worked as a chaplain and dean at Peterhouse, helping with religious life there.
However, in the 1950s, Wormald started to disagree with some things the Church of England was doing. He admired Pope Pius XII, the leader of the Catholic Church, and decided to become a Catholic.
Historical Work and Ideas
Thomas Wormald was an expert in the history of England during the 1600s. This period included the English Civil War.
His first major book, published in 1951, was about Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon. Clarendon was an important figure during the English Civil War.
In his research, Wormald showed that the main groups in the war, the Cavaliers (who supported the King) and the Roundheads (who supported Parliament), did not become clear until just before the fighting started in 1642. This idea changed how people thought about the war. It suggested that the conflict was not a long-planned "English Revolution" but rather a more sudden event.
Family and Legacy
Thomas Wormald married the sister of a judge named Lord Lloyd. They had four sons together. One of their sons, Patrick Wormald, also became a well-known historian.
After Thomas Wormald passed away, The Times newspaper praised him. They said he had "one of the most distinguished historical minds of his generation." This means he was considered one of the best historians of his time.
Works
