Basil Richardson Stanley Megaw (22 June 1913 – 22 August 2002) was a British archaeologist. He was the first Director of the

School of Scottish Studies A school is the educational institution (and, in the case of in-person learning, the building) designed to provide learning environments for the teaching of students, usually under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of ...

at Edinburgh.

Life

He was born on 22 June 1913 in

Belfast Belfast (, , , ; from ) is the capital city and principal port of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan and connected to the open sea through Belfast Lough and the North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland), North Channel ...

the son of Arthur S. Megaw and his wife, Helen Bertha Smith. He was educated at Mourne Grange then

Campbell College Campbell College located in Belfast, Northern Ireland and founded in 1894 comprises a preparatory school department (junior age) and a senior Northern Ireland 'Voluntary Grammar' school, the latter meaning, in terms of provision of education, a ...

in Belfast. He then obtained a place at

Peterhouse, Cambridge Peterhouse is the oldest Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England, founded in 1284 by Hugh de Balsham, Bishop of Ely. Peterhouse has around 300 undergraduate and 175 graduate stud ...

where he graduated BA in Archaeology and Anthropology in 1935. His brothers

Eric Megaw Eric Christopher Stanley Megaw MBE (1908 – 25 January 1956) was an Irish (Belfast-educated) engineer who refined the power of the cavity magnetron for radar purposes (detection of U-boats) in the Second World War. He was appointed an MBE in 1943 ...

and

Peter Megaw Arthur Hubert Stanley "Peter" Megaw, (20 July 191028 June 2006) was an architectural historian and archaeologist. He specialised in Byzantine churches. He served as Director of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus, between 1935 and 1960 and a ...

were also notable in their fields. He joined the

Manx Museum The Manx Museum () in Douglas, Isle of Man is the national museum of the Isle of Man. It is run by Manx National Heritage. The museum covers 10,000 years the history of the Isle of Man from the Stone Age to the modern era. The museum serves as h ...

in 1936 as assistant director and in 1940 he replaced

William Cubbon William Cubbon M.A. (28 May 1865 – 1 January 1955) was a Manx nationalist, antiquarian, author, businessman and librarian who was the first secretary of the Manx Museum, later becoming Director of the Museum.''Isle of Man Examiner Yearbook ...

as Director, holding this post from 1947 to 1957. In 1940 he was also appointed an Inspector of Ancient Monuments in England but could not take on this role due to the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. He instead became a Scientific Officer for RAF Bomber Command. From 1957 to 1969 he was Director of the

being replaced in 1969 by Prof John MacQueen (1929–2019). In 1966 he was elected a Fellow of the

Royal Society of Edinburgh The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity that operates on a wholly independent and non-partisan basis and provides public benefit throughout Scotland. It was establis ...

. His proposers were

Douglas Allan Douglas Alexander Allan, CBE, FRSGS, FRSE, FMA (28 January 1896 – 30 July 1967) was a geologist and curator, eventually becoming the director of the Royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh, from 1945 until 1961. Early life and education Born ...

, Wreford Watson,

Alexander Charles Stephen Dr Alexander Charles Stephen FRSE PRPSE (17 December 1893 – 3 June 1966) was a 20th-century Scottish zoologist. Life He was born on 17 December 1893 in Garvock manse, near Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire the son of Rev William Stephen. He was edu ...

and

Douglas Guthrie Douglas James Guthrie (8 September 1885 – 8 June 1975) was a Scottish medical doctor, otolaryngologist and historian of medicine. After graduating in Medicine from Edinburgh University, he pursued postgraduate studies into diseases of ear, ...

. From 1974 to 1977 he was Vice President of the

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is the senior antiquarian body of Scotland, with its headquarters in the National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh. The Society's aim is to promote the cultural heritage of Scotland. The usu ...

. He retired fully in 1980 and died in

Stevenage Stevenage ( ) is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, about north of London. Stevenage is east of junctions 7 and 8 of the A1(M), between Letchworth Garden City to the north and Welwyn Garden City to the south. In 1946, Stevenage w ...

on 22 August 2002.

Family

He was married to Eleanor Hardy (d.1977). They had two children, Sam and Helen.

References

1913 births 2002 deaths Scientists from Belfast Alumni of Peterhouse, Cambridge Academics of the University of Edinburgh Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 20th-century British archaeologists 20th-century antiquarians Archaeologists from Northern Ireland {{UK-archaeologist-stub