Fred C. Robinson facts for kids
Fred Colson Robinson (born September 23, 1930, in Birmingham, Alabama – died May 5, 2016, in New Haven, Connecticut) was an American historian. He taught at Yale University and was known as one of the world's top experts on Old English. Old English is the earliest form of the English language, spoken in England from about 450 to 1150 AD.
Life and Work of Fred Robinson
Fred Robinson started his journey in education in 1953. He earned his first degree in English and fine arts from Birmingham–Southern College. Later, he continued his studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There, he earned his master's and doctorate degrees in English and language studies.
Becoming an Expert in Old English
In 1961, Fred Robinson completed a major research project for his doctorate. It was about the language used in Beowulf, a very famous Old English poem. After teaching at Stanford University and Cornell University, he joined the faculty at Yale University in 1972. He taught there for many years until he retired as a respected professor.
Awards and Recognition
Fred Robinson received many honors for his work.
- From 1974 to 1975, he was a Guggenheim Fellow. This is a special award given to people doing important research.
- In 1984, he won the Haskins Medal with Stanley B. Greenfield. They won it for a book they wrote about Old English literature.
- He also served as the president of the Medieval Academy of America in 1984. This is a big honor in the field of medieval studies.
- In 1996, he gave a special lecture for the British Academy.
Fred Robinson passed away in 2016. He was survived by his wife, two children, and four grandchildren. His work helped many people better understand Old English.
