Lord David Cecil facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lord David Cecil
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Edward Christian David Gascoyne-Cecil
9 April 1902 Hatfield House, Hertfordshire, England
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| Died | 1 January 1986 (aged 83) Cranborne, Dorset, England
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| Education | Eton College |
| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |
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Lord Edward Christian David Gascoyne-Cecil (born April 9, 1902 – died January 1, 1986) was a British writer, historian, and university professor. He was known for writing biographies, which are books about people's lives, and for his work as a historian. He had the title "Lord" because his father was a marquess, a high-ranking noble.
Contents
Early Life and School Days
David Cecil was the youngest of four children. His father was James Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury, a very important person in British society. His mother was Lady Cicely Gore.
When David was eight years old, he became ill and had to spend a lot of time in bed. During this time, he discovered a deep love for reading. This early passion for books helped shape his future career.
Because of his health, he started at Eton College, a famous boarding school, later than most boys. He managed to get through school by resting one day a week. After Eton, he went to Christ Church, Oxford, one of the oldest and most famous universities in the world.
A Career in History and Literature
At Oxford, David Cecil studied Modern History and did very well, earning top honors in 1924. Soon after, he became a "Fellow" at Wadham College, Oxford. A Fellow is like a senior member of a college who teaches and does research.
His first book, The Stricken Deer (1929), was about the poet William Cowper. It was a big success and showed his talent for writing about history and literature. He then wrote books about other famous writers like Walter Scott and Jane Austen.
In 1939, he moved to New College, Oxford, where he continued to be a Fellow until 1969. After that, he became an Honorary Fellow, which is a special title given to respected former members.
From 1948 to 1970, Lord David Cecil was a Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford. This meant he taught students about English books and writers.
The Inklings Group
For a while, Lord David Cecil was part of a famous literary group called the "Inklings." This group included well-known authors like J. R. R. Tolkien, who wrote The Lord of the Rings, and C. S. Lewis, who wrote The Chronicles of Narnia. They would meet to discuss their writings and ideas.
His Students and Writings
During his time as a professor, many students learned from Lord David Cecil. Some of his students became famous writers themselves, like Kingsley Amis.
Lord David Cecil wrote many more books throughout his career. He wrote about authors like Thomas Hardy and William Shakespeare. He also wrote a two-volume biography about Lord Melbourne, a former British Prime Minister. Besides writers, he also wrote about artists such as Augustus John and Max Beerbohm.
Even after he retired, he kept writing. He wrote about his own family in The Cecils of Hatfield House and about country houses in Dorset. He also put together an anthology, which is a collection of writings, called Library Looking Glass, sharing books he loved.
Family Life
In 1932, David Cecil married Rachel MacCarthy. She was the daughter of a well-known writer named Desmond MacCarthy. They had three children together. One of their children, Jonathan Cecil, became an actor.
Images for kids
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The Young Melbourne Pan Books edition, 1948
See also
- List of Gresham Professors of Rhetoric
