Max Beloff, Baron Beloff facts for kids
Max Beloff, Baron Beloff (born July 2, 1913 – died March 22, 1999) was an important British historian and a member of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords. He was known for his work in education and politics. From 1974 to 1979, he was the first leader of the University College of Buckingham, which is now known as the University of Buckingham.
Early Life and Education
Max Beloff was born in London on July 2, 1913. His family came to England from Russia in 1903. He was the oldest of five children. His father, Semion Beloff, was a merchant. Max had several famous siblings. His sister Anne became a biochemist and married a Nobel Prize winner. His sister Nora was a well-known journalist.
Max went to St Paul's School in London. After that, he studied history at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, a famous university in Oxford. He did very well in his studies, earning top grades.
Max Beloff's Political Views
Max Beloff's political ideas changed over time. When he was in school, he leaned towards conservative views. At university, he became interested in socialism. After World War II, he became a liberal.
In the 1960s, there was a big discussion about education. Max Beloff wanted to create a university that didn't rely on government money. He felt that the Labour Party government at the time didn't support his idea. He also felt the Liberal Party was moving too far to the left. Because of this, he decided to join the Conservative Party when he retired in 1979.
In 1980, he was given a special honor called a knighthood. Then, in 1981, he became a life peer, which meant he could be a member of the House of Lords for life. He was known as Baron Beloff. In the House of Lords, he often spoke about education and how the government works.
He strongly believed that Britain should not be part of the European Union. He wrote a book about this in 1996, explaining why he thought Britain's history made it different from other European countries.
Max Beloff also helped start the History Curriculum Association in 1990. This group wanted schools to teach history in a way that focused more on facts and knowledge. He passed away on March 22, 1999, the same day he gave his last speech in the House of Lords.
Career Highlights
Max Beloff had a long and impressive career in academics. Here are some of his key roles:
- He was a research fellow at Corpus Christi College starting in 1937.
- From 1939 to 1946, he taught history at Manchester University. During World War II, he also served in the Royal Corps of Signals for a year.
- He became a Nuffield Reader at Oxford University from 1946 to 1956, studying how different institutions compare.
- From 1957 to 1974, he was a professor at Oxford, teaching about government and public administration.
- He was a fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford and All Souls College, Oxford.
- A very important part of his career was being the first leader, or Principal, of the University College of Buckingham from 1974 to 1979. This college later became the University of Buckingham.
- After his death, the University of Buckingham created 'The Max Beloff Centre for the Study of Liberty' in his honor.
Key Writings
Max Beloff wrote many books and articles about history and politics. His works covered a wide range of topics, from early British history to international relations and the history of the Soviet Union. Some of his important books include:
- The Foreign Policy of Soviet Russia 1929–41 (published in two parts).
- The Age of Absolutism, 1660–1815, which looked at a period of powerful rulers in Europe.
- Britain and European Union: Dialogue of the Deaf, where he shared his views on Britain's relationship with Europe.
- An Historian in the Twentieth Century, which was about his own life and experiences as a historian.
He also edited several collections of essays and historical documents, helping to share the work of other historians and thinkers.
