Kenneth O. Morgan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable The Lord Morgan FRHistS FBA FLSW
Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
Incumbent
Assumed office 12 June 2000 Life Peerage
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
In office 1989–1995
Preceded by	Gareth Owen
Succeeded by	Derec Llwyd Morgan
Personal details
Born	(1934-05-16) 16 May 1934 (age 91)
Nationality	Welsh
Political party	Labour
Spouses	Jane Morgan (d. 1992) Elizabeth Gibson ​ (m. 2009)​
Alma mater	Oriel College, Oxford
Occupation	Historian

Kenneth Owen Morgan, Baron Morgan (born May 16, 1934) is a famous Welsh historian and author. He is especially known for his books about modern British and Welsh history and politics. Lord Morgan often shares his knowledge on radio and television. He has also been an important thinker for the Labour Party.

About Kenneth Morgan

Early Life and Education

Kenneth Morgan grew up in the countryside of Wales. He went to Aberdovey Council School in rural Wales. Later, he attended University College School in London and Oriel College, Oxford. He enjoyed his first two schools very much.

When he was at Oxford, he found some of his teachers and fellow students not very inspiring. However, he really liked the lectures given by other brilliant professors. These included people like Asa Briggs and A. J. P. Taylor. After his first degree, he returned to Oxford to study for his doctorate. He focused on how Wales influenced British politics in the late 1800s. He especially looked at the politician W. E. Gladstone. He finished his doctorate in 1958.

Teaching Career

Lord Morgan taught at the University of Wales Swansea from 1958 to 1966. He also spent time teaching in New York at Columbia University in the early 1960s.

From 1966 to 1989, he was a Fellow at Queen's College, Oxford. A Fellow is like a senior teacher or researcher at a university. He then became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wales from 1989 to 1995. This is a very important leadership role in a university. During this time, he also led the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Awards and Honors

In 1983, Kenneth Morgan was chosen as a Fellow of the British Academy. This is a great honor for people who are experts in humanities and social sciences. He also became an Honorary Fellow at Queen's College, Oxford, in 1992, and at Oriel College in 2002.

In 2008, he became a Druid of the Gorsedd of Bards. This is a group that celebrates Welsh culture and language. In 2009, he received a gold medal from the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion. This award was for his achievements throughout his life. He is also a founding member of the Learned Society of Wales.

His Role in Politics

Kenneth Morgan is a member of the Labour Party. On June 12, 2000, he was made a life peer. This means he became a member of the House of Lords for the rest of his life. His full title is Baron Morgan, of Aberdyfi in the County of Gwynedd. In the House of Lords, he has served on the Lords Select Committee on the Constitution. This committee looks at how the government and laws work.

His Family Life

Kenneth Morgan was married to Jane Morgan, who was also a historian. She passed away in 1992. They had two children together, David and Katherine. In 2009, he married Elizabeth Gibson. She was a professor of law in France. They have five grandchildren.

His Books and Writings

Kenneth Morgan has written many books. One of his most famous is The People's Peace, which tells the story of Britain after World War II. He has also written biographies, which are life stories, of many important politicians. These include David Lloyd George, Keir Hardie, James Callaghan, and Michael Foot.

He was also the editor of The Oxford Illustrated History of Britain. This book has sold almost a million copies! He wrote the last two chapters of this book, covering the years from 1914 to 2010.

Lord Morgan also edited the Welsh History Review for many years, from 1961 to 2003. His book Wales in British Politics, 1868–1922 looked at how more people got the right to vote and the campaign to separate the Welsh church from the state.

Understanding History

In the past, how historians studied "labour history" (the history of working people) changed a lot. Some historians, like E. P. Thompson, wanted to focus more on the lives of ordinary working people.

Kenneth Morgan saw good things about these new ways of studying history. He felt it helped historians look at the bigger picture of social history. It also encouraged them to use new types of information, like stories from people who lived through events. He believed it was important to focus on the idea of "class" in working-class history. This new approach helped shed light on the lives of the poor and those who didn't have much power.

However, Lord Morgan also felt that sometimes these new ideas were too strict. He thought they could sometimes twist the facts to fit a certain way of thinking. He remembered a time when he was criticized just for his accent and for going to Oxford, instead of focusing on his ideas. He felt it was important to help keep history fair and accurate.

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