J. C. Beckett facts for kids

James Camlin Beckett (born February 8, 1912 – died February 12, 1996) was an important historian from Northern Ireland. He spent his life studying and writing about the history of Ireland.

Early Life and Education

James Camlin Beckett was born in Belfast, a city in Northern Ireland. He went to school at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. Later, he studied at Queen's University in Belfast.

He first started studying English literature. But he soon changed his focus to Modern History. In 1934, he graduated with top honors. This showed how talented he was in understanding history.

Academic Career and Contributions

After finishing university, Beckett taught at Belfast Royal Academy. He also earned a master's degree. His master's project was published as a book called Protestant Dissent in Ireland 1687–1780. This book was part of a special series about Irish history.

In 1945, he joined the history department at Queen's University. He worked there for most of his career. He started as a lecturer and became a reader in 1952. In 1958, Queen's University gave him a special title: Professor of Irish History. He held this important position until he retired in 1975.

Beckett received honorary degrees from several universities. These included the University of Ulster, the National University of Ireland, and Queen's University. He also served on the Royal Commission on Historical Documents for many years. This group helps protect important historical papers.

The Making of Modern Ireland

One of James Beckett's most famous books is The Making of Modern Ireland. It was published in 1966. This book became a standard textbook for students in schools and colleges.

It was special because it brought together new ideas from many Irish historians. Another historian, David Quinn, said the book was "learned but cool, objective, unimpassioned and yet always alive and compassionate as well." This means it was very smart, fair, and still interesting to read.

Major Works

• Protestant Dissent in Ireland, 1687–1780 (1948)
• A Short History of Ireland (1952)
• Ulster since 1800: A Political and Economic Survey (1954)
• Ulster since 1800: A Social Survey (1957)
• Queen's, Belfast 1845–1949: The History of a University (with T. W. Moody, 1959)
• The Making of Modern Ireland (1966)
• Belfast: Origins and Growth of an Industrial City (1967)
• The Ulster Debate: Report of a Study Group of the Institute for the Study of Conflict (1972)
• The Anglo-Irish Tradition (1976)
• The Cavalier Duke: A Life of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormond, 1610–1688 (1990)