Eric Ives facts for kids

Eric William Ives (born July 12, 1931, died September 25, 2012) was a British historian. He was a top expert on the Tudor period, which was a time in English history when the Tudor family ruled. He also helped run a big university. He was a special professor of English History at the University of Birmingham.

Early Life and Education

Eric Ives was born on July 12, 1931, in Romford, England. He grew up in a family that belonged to the Plymouth Brethren church. He went to Brentwood School, which was a school just for boys.

After school, he studied history at Queen Mary College, London. He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (BA), and then continued his studies to get a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the same university. This PhD meant he was an expert in his field.

Serving His Country

In 1955, Eric Ives joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) as part of his national service. He worked in the Education Branch, helping to teach others. He started as a pilot officer and was promoted to flying officer in 1956, and then to flight lieutenant in 1957.

Academic Career and Research

After serving in the RAF for two years, Eric Ives worked as a research assistant for a short time. Then, he spent four years as a Fellow at the University of Birmingham's Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon.

In 1961, he became a lecturer in Modern History at the University of Liverpool. He returned to the University of Birmingham in 1967 as a history lecturer. He became a full professor of English History in 1987 and also served as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts until he retired in 1997. From 1989 to 1993, he was also a pro-vice-chancellor, which is an important role in helping to manage the whole university.

Expert on Tudor History

Eric Ives was especially known for his detailed work on Anne Boleyn. She was the second wife and queen of King Henry VIII of England. Ives's ideas about her life led to some interesting debates with another historian, Retha Warnicke.

He started researching Anne Boleyn around 1979. His first book about her, titled Anne Boleyn, came out in 1986. He later updated and expanded it in 2004, calling it The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn. In 2009, he also published a book about Lady Jane Grey, another important figure from the Tudor period.

He also wrote about the history of law and how modern universities developed. He wrote about other people from the Tudor court, like William Brereton, who was wrongly accused and executed during Anne Boleyn's time. In 2000, he co-wrote a book about the history of the University of Birmingham called The First Civic University: Birmingham, 1880–1980 – An Introductory History.

Personal Life

Eric Ives first became a Methodist and then a Baptist. In 1961, he married his wife, Ruth. They had two children and lived in Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon. He also enjoyed singing as a tenor in a choir.

Awards and Recognition

In 2001, Eric Ives was honored with the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This award recognized his important contributions to history.

Works

• Letters & Accounts of William Brereton (1976)
• God in History (1979)
• Faction in Tudor England (1979)
• The Common Lawyers of Pre-Reformation England (1983)
• Anne Boleyn (1986), revised as The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn (2004)
• Henry VIII (Very Important People Series) (2007)
• Lady Jane Grey: A Tudor Mystery (2009)
• The Reformation Experience: Living Through the Turbulent 16th Century (2012)