Keith Thomas (historian) facts for kids

Sir Keith Vivian Thomas (born 2 January 1933) is a famous historian from Wales. He studies the early modern world, especially England. He is best known for his books Religion and the Decline of Magic and Man and the Natural World. From 1986 to 2000, he was the president of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, which is a part of Oxford University.

Early Life and School

Keith Thomas was born on January 2, 1933, in a place called Wick in Glamorgan, Wales. He went to Barry County Grammar School, which was a state school.

He earned a special scholarship called the Brackenbury Scholarship. This allowed him to study modern history at Balliol College, Oxford. He finished his first degree (a Bachelor of Arts) with top marks in 1955. Later, his degree was changed to a Master of Arts, which is a tradition at Oxford.

His Career as a Historian

Sir Keith Thomas started his career at Oxford University. From 1955 to 1957, he was a fellow at All Souls College, Oxford. A fellow is like a senior academic or researcher at a university college. After that, he became a fellow at St John's College, Oxford.

He taught modern history at Oxford University for many years. In 1986, he became a full professor of modern history. In the same year, he was chosen to be the president of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He led the college until he retired in 2000, when he was 67 years old.

After retiring, he was again elected as a fellow at All Souls College, Oxford. He also helped run the university as a pro-vice-chancellor. This role involves helping the main leader of the university. He also worked with the Oxford University Press, which publishes books. He helped edit the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, which is a huge collection of biographies of important British people.

Personal Life

Sir Keith Thomas is married to Valerie, Lady Thomas. She also went to Oxford University. They have two children together.

He supports Humanists UK, an organization that promotes secular humanism. This means they believe in using reason and compassion to live a good life, without relying on religious beliefs.

Awards and Recognition

Sir Keith Thomas has received many honors for his work.

Academic Honors

He became a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 1970. He was also elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 1979. The British Academy is a leading group for humanities and social sciences in the UK. He was even its president from 1993 to 1997.

He was also made an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 1993, he joined the Academia Europaea, which is a European academy of scholars. He is also a founding member of the Learned Society of Wales.

Honorary Degrees

Many universities have given him honorary degrees. This means they recognized his important contributions to history. Some of these universities include the University of Cambridge and the University of Wales.

Knighthood and Other Awards

In 1988, he was made a Knight Bachelor by the Queen. This means he can use the title "Sir." In 1991, he received an award from Italy called the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

In 2020, he was given another special honor called the Order of the Companions of Honour. This award is for people who have made a major contribution to the arts, sciences, medicine, or government. He received it for his important work in studying history.

You can see portraits of Sir Keith Thomas at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, the British Academy, and the National Portrait Gallery in London.

See also

In Spanish: Keith Thomas (historiador) para niños