Louis Cullen facts for kids

Louis Michael Cullen, born in 1932, is an important Irish historian, author, and former diplomat. He is also an expert on Japan.

He used to be a professor of Modern Irish History at Trinity College in Dublin. Another famous historian, Nicholas Canny, said that Cullen is "the most prolific, most wide-ranging, and most enterprising historian of his generation in Ireland." This means he has written many books and articles, covered many different topics, and always looked for new ways to understand history.

Early Life and Education

Louis Cullen's family came from a town called New Ross in County Wexford. He went to University College Galway for his master's degree. His research was about smuggling in Galway during the 1700s.

Later, he earned his doctorate degree from the London School of Economics in England. This helped him become a skilled researcher and writer.

Career as a Diplomat and Historian

Cullen started his career as a diplomat for Ireland. He worked at the Irish embassy in Paris, France. While living there, he became very interested in the old trading connections between Ireland and France.

In 1963, he began teaching history at Trinity College in Dublin. He became a professor of Irish History in 1972. He also helped start the Economic and Social History Society of Ireland in 1970. This group helps people study how money and society have changed over time in Ireland.

Professor Cullen can speak Japanese. Because of this, he was able to write a detailed book about the history of Japan from 1582 to 1941. His book, "An Economic History of Ireland Since 1660," is a very popular textbook. Many students use it to learn about Irish history.

Cullen's careful study of how economies change helped people understand Irish life better between 1700 and 1850. Before his work, many thought that Dublin's economic problems after 1801 were caused by the Act of Union. This act joined Ireland with Britain and took away Ireland's own parliament.

However, Cullen showed that the city's decline was likely to happen anyway. This was because of new inventions like steam power during the Industrial Revolution. These changes meant that old ways of trade and business were changing, no matter what political decisions were made.

Key Books and Writings

Louis Cullen has written many important books and articles. Here are a few of his well-known works:

• Anglo-Irish Trade 1600-1800, published in 1968. This book looks at trade between Ireland and Britain.
• An Economic History of Ireland Since 1660, published in 1972. This is a widely used textbook about Ireland's economy.
• A History of Japan 1582-1941: Internal and External Worlds, published in 2003. This book shares his knowledge of Japanese history.

See also

• List of Irish historians