Joseph Hugh Shennan (13 March 1933 – 25 May 2015) was a British historian who was
Professor of
European Studies (1974–98) and
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (1993–98) at the
University of Lancaster. One of the pioneers in
European Studies, his research focussed primarily on the history of
France during the
Ancien Régime
''Ancien'' may refer to
* the French word for "ancient, old"
** Société des anciens textes français
* the French for "former, senior"
** Virelai ancien
** Ancien Régime
** Ancien Régime in France
{{disambig ...
as well as on the history of
early modern Europe
Early modern Europe, also referred to as the post-medieval period, is the period of European history between the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, roughly the late 15th century to the late 18th century. Histori ...
.
Life
Shennan was born in 1933 to primary school teachers Hugh and Mary Shennan. He studied
History at the
University of Liverpool where he received a
Bachelor of Arts degree in 1955. From 1955 to 1957 he did his
National Service. In 1957, he continued his studies at
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College (full name: "The College of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary", often shortened to "Corpus"), is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. From the late 14th century through to the early 19th century ...
where he received his
doctorate in 1960. He taught as
Assistant Lecturer and later as
Lecturer
Lecturer is an List of academic ranks, academic rank within many universities, though the meaning of the term varies somewhat from country to country. It generally denotes an academic expert who is hired to teach on a full- or part-time basis. T ...
in
History at the
University of Liverpool.
From 1965, he was employed at the
University of Lancaster and played an important role in the establishment of the History Department. Over the years he taught as a
Senior Lecturer and
Reader. In the 1970s he was one of the pioneers of
European Studies. In 1971, he and like-minded people founded the journal ''
European Studies Review'' which he served as editor until 1979. The journal later became the ''
European History Quarterly''.
In 1974, he was appointed
Professor of
European Studies. As such, he worked on building
Lancaster's interdisciplinary School of European Studies and was its first director. From 1979 to 1984, he was Head of the History Department. During this time, he founded the ''Lancaster Pamphlets'', edited by the History Department, to which he also contributed three titles, ''France before the Revolution'' (1983), ''Louis XIV'' (1986) and ''International Relations in Europe, 1689–1789'' (1995). In 1985, he was appointed provisional
Chancellor
Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...
and in 1993 he was appointed
Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the university. In 1998, he retired.
Publications
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References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shennan, J. H.
1933 births
2015 deaths
Academic journal editors
Alumni of the University of Liverpool
Alumni of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
20th-century British historians
21st-century British historians
Academics of the University of Liverpool
Academics of Lancaster University
Fellows of the Royal Historical Society
Historians of France
Historians of Europe
Writers from Liverpool