John Elliott (historian) facts for kids

Sir John Huxtable Elliott (born June 23, 1930 – died March 10, 2022) was a very important British historian. He was especially known for his deep knowledge of Spain and its history. People who study Spanish history are sometimes called Hispanists. Sir John taught as a professor at famous universities like the University of Oxford and was an honorary member of Oriel College, Oxford and Trinity College, Cambridge. He often published his books and articles under the name J. H. Elliott.

Sir John Elliott: A Great Historian

His Life and Career

John Elliott was born in Reading, Berkshire, England, on June 23, 1930. He went to school at Eton College and then studied at Trinity College, Cambridge.

He started his teaching career at Cambridge University in 1957. He worked there as a lecturer until 1967. After that, he became a Professor of History at King's College, London, from 1968 to 1973.

In 1973, Sir John moved to the United States. He became a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. He stayed there until 1990. Then, he returned to England to become the Regius Professor of Modern History at the University of Oxford. He held this important position until 1997.

Important Awards and Recognition

Sir John Elliott received many honors for his work. In 1972, he was chosen as a Fellow of the British Academy. This is a very high honor for experts in the humanities and social sciences. He was also elected to important academies in the United States.

He received honorary degrees from many universities around the world. These degrees recognized his great contributions to history.

In 1994, he was made a Knight by the Queen of England. This meant he could use the title "Sir" before his name. He also received several important awards from Spain, including the Commander of Isabella the Catholic and the Grand Cross of Alfonso the Wise.

In 1996, he won the Prince of Asturias Prize for Social Sciences. This is one of Spain's most important awards. In 1999, he received the Balzan Prize for History. This award recognized his outstanding work on the history of Spain and the Spanish Empire from 1500 to 1800.

His Contributions to History

Sir John Elliott's studies focused on the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and the Spanish Empire. His research helped people understand the challenges Spain faced in the 16th and 17th centuries. He explored how Spanish leaders tried to prevent the decline of their empire.

He is considered one of the most important historians who helped develop the study of Spanish history.

His Books and Ideas

Sir John Elliott wrote many influential books. Some of his most famous works include:

• The Revolt of the Catalans (1963)
• The Old World and the New, 1492–1650 (1970)
• The Count-Duke of Olivares (1986)

His book Richelieu and Olivares (1987) won the Leo Gershoy Award. This award is given for the best book in English on European history. In 2006, he published Empires of the Atlantic World: Britain and Spain in America 1492–1830. This book compared the British and Spanish empires in the Americas. It won the Francis Parkman Prize the next year.

In 2012, he shared his thoughts on how historical research has changed in his book History in the Making.

Later Life and Passing

Sir John Elliott was hospitalized in Oxford on March 5, 2022, due to pneumonia and kidney problems. He passed away on March 10, 2022, at the age of 91.

Works

• The Revolt of the Catalans: A Study in the Decline of Spain, 1598–1640 (Cambridge University Press, 1963; pbk reprint, 1984). ISBN: 978-0521278904
• Imperial Spain: 1469–1716 (London 1963, revised repr. Penguin Books, 2002). ISBN: 978-0141007038
• Europe Divided, 1559–1598 (London 1963; 2nd ed. 2000). ISBN: 978-0631217800
• The Old World and The New 1492–1650 (Cambridge University Press, 1970; pbk reprint, 2008). ISBN: 978-0521427098
• Memoriales y cartas del Conde-Duque de Olivares, 2 vols. (with José F. de la Peña) (Madrid 1978–80). ISBN: 978-8420401119
• Richelieu and Olivares (Cambridge University Press, 1984; pbk reprint, 2003). ISBN: 978-0521262057
• The Count-Duke Olivares: The Statesman in an Age of Decline (Yale University Press 1986, revised repr. 1989). ISBN: 978-0300044997
• Spain and Its World, 1500–1700: Selected Essays (Yale University Press, 1989; pbk reprint, 1990). ISBN: 978-0300048636
• The World of the Favourite (edited, with L. W. B. Brockliss) (Yale University Press, 1999). ISBN: 978-0300076448
• The Sale of the Century: Artistic Relations between Spain and Great Britain, 1604–1655 (with Jonathan Brown) (Yale University Press 2002). ISBN: 978-0300097610
• A Palace for a King, with Jonathan Brown (Yale University Press, 2003). ISBN: 978-0300101850
• Empires of the Atlantic World: Britain and Spain, 1492–1830 (Yale University Press, 2006). ISBN: 978-0300123999
• Spain, Europe and the Wider World, 1500–1800 (Yale University Press, 2009). ISBN: 978-0300145373
• History in the Making (Yale University Press, 2012). ISBN: 978-0300186383
• Scots and Catalans: Union and Disunion (Yale University Press, 2018; pbk reprint, 2020). ISBN: 978-0300253382

See also

In Spanish: John Elliott para niños