Lydon was born to a large Catholic family in Connemara in 1928, the son of a local baker. His mother raised him to be fluent in the Irish language.[4][5]
Lydon studied both English and History at University College Galway, graduating in 1950.[4] One of his external examiners was J. R. R. Tolkien, who was so impressed with his work that he invited Lydon to tea after the university refused Tolkien permission to invite him for lunch.[5] After completing his B.A., Lydon stayed on at UCG to undertake research for a master's degree. His adviser, history department professor Mary Donovan O'Sullivan, suggested to him that "Ireland's contribution to the military activities of the English crown in the thirteenth century might be a subject that would repay investigation." [citation needed] Lydon moved to England to attend the University of London and studied under the influential medievalistSir Maurice Powicke.[5]
Careeredit
In 1955 he completed his thesis, "Ireland's participation in the military activities of English kings in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries." Revised for publication, it became the first of many scholarly contributions to the history of the era.[5] Having a full year left on his Travelling Fellowship after his studies were concluded, he was advised by his mentor Powicke to "use the residue of the funding to travel on the continent...stay clear of archives...read, visit galleries, listen to music, meet people and generally lift his eyes beyond the confines of the [Public] Record Office in Chancery Lane." This experience "gave him an appreciation of European 'culture' in its broadest sense" and enabled Lydon to "bring the historiography of late medieval Ireland to maturity." [citation needed] Returning to Galway in 1956 he taught history through the media of Irish and English and, in 1959, moved to Dublin to lecture at Trinity College. He became a full lecturer in 1962, a Fellow in 1965, and an associate professor in 1969.
He served as an educator for thirty-three years, and was Lecky Professor of History at Trinity from 1980 until his retirement in 1993.[5]
Primarily an Irish mediaevalist, Lydon published his first major work, The lordship of Ireland in the Middle Ages, in 1972.[5] In the 1980s, he served as a contributor to the Cambridge Historical Encyclopedia of Great Britain and Ireland.[7] Lydon's other works include:
The Gill History of Ireland (1972)
Ireland in the Later Middle Ages (1973)
‘Ireland and the English Crown, 1171-1541’ in IHS (Irish Historical Studies) xxix:115 (1995) [pp.] 281-94.
Law and disorder in thirteenth-century Ireland: the Dublin Parliament of 1297 (1997)
The Making of Ireland: From Ancient Times to the Present (1998)
'Richard II’s Expeditions to Ireland', in Government, War and Society in Medieval Ireland: Essays by Edmund Curtis, A.J. Otway-Ruthven and James Lydon, ed. Peter Crooks (Dublin, 2008).
Personal lifeedit
Lydon was unmarried. He battled depression in later life. He was fond of music, particularly opera.[5]
Referencesedit
^"Lydon, James Francis Michael | Dictionary of Irish Biography". www.dib.ie. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
^"Maverick medieval historian and fellow of Trinity College Dublin". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
^"Lydon, James F. 1928- | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
^ ab"Interview with Professor James Lydon". History Ireland. 3 (1). History Publications Ltd. Spring 1995. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
^"Professor James Francis Michael Lydon: Biography and bibliography". Retrieved 30 October 2014.
^Haigh, Christopher, ed. (1990) [1985]. The Cambridge Historical Encyclopedia of Great Britain and Ireland. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 6. ISBN9780521395526.
Further readingedit
Government, War and Society in Medieval Ireland: Essays by Edmund Curtis, A.J. Otway-Ruthven and James Lydon, edited by Peter Crooks. Four Courts Press, 2008. ISBN978-1-84682-105-9.
Colony & Frontier in Medieval England: Essays presented to J.F. Lydon, edited by T. B. Barry, Frame, Katharine Simms. Hambledon Press, 1995. ISBN9781852851224.
External linksedit
The James Lydon Research Seminar in Medieval History at Trinity College
May 03, 2024
james, lydon, historian, james, francis, lydon, 1928, june, 2013, irish, educator, historian, served, lecky, professor, history, trinity, college, dublin, from, 1980, 1993, authored, numerous, works, particularly, medieval, history, ireland, james, francis, ly. James Francis Lydon 12 May 1928 1 2 3 25 June 2013 was an Irish educator and historian He served as the Lecky Professor of History at Trinity College Dublin from 1980 to 1993 and authored numerous works particularly on the medieval history of Ireland James Francis LydonBorn 1928 05 12 12 May 1928Galway IrelandDied25 June 2013 2013 06 25 aged 85 LanguageEnglish IrishCitizenshipRepublic of IrelandAlma materTrinity College DublinSubjectHistory of Ireland Medieval studies Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Works 4 Personal life 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksEarly life and education editLydon was born to a large Catholic family in Connemara in 1928 the son of a local baker His mother raised him to be fluent in the Irish language 4 5 Lydon studied both English and History at University College Galway graduating in 1950 4 One of his external examiners was J R R Tolkien who was so impressed with his work that he invited Lydon to tea after the university refused Tolkien permission to invite him for lunch 5 After completing his B A Lydon stayed on at UCG to undertake research for a master s degree His adviser history department professor Mary Donovan O Sullivan suggested to him that Ireland s contribution to the military activities of the English crown in the thirteenth century might be a subject that would repay investigation citation needed Lydon moved to England to attend the University of London and studied under the influential medievalist Sir Maurice Powicke 5 Career editIn 1955 he completed his thesis Ireland s participation in the military activities of English kings in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries Revised for publication it became the first of many scholarly contributions to the history of the era 5 Having a full year left on his Travelling Fellowship after his studies were concluded he was advised by his mentor Powicke to use the residue of the funding to travel on the continent stay clear of archives read visit galleries listen to music meet people and generally lift his eyes beyond the confines of the Public Record Office in Chancery Lane This experience gave him an appreciation of European culture in its broadest sense and enabled Lydon to bring the historiography of late medieval Ireland to maturity citation needed Returning to Galway in 1956 he taught history through the media of Irish and English and in 1959 moved to Dublin to lecture at Trinity College He became a full lecturer in 1962 a Fellow in 1965 and an associate professor in 1969 He served as an educator for thirty three years and was Lecky Professor of History at Trinity from 1980 until his retirement in 1993 5 He was elected a Member of the Royal Irish Academy in 1967 and president of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland from 1981 to 1984 6 Works editPrimarily an Irish mediaevalist Lydon published his first major work The lordship of Ireland in the Middle Ages in 1972 5 In the 1980s he served as a contributor to the Cambridge Historical Encyclopedia of Great Britain and Ireland 7 Lydon s other works include The Gill History of Ireland 1972 Ireland in the Later Middle Ages 1973 Ireland and the English Crown 1171 1541 in IHS Irish Historical Studies xxix 115 1995 pp 281 94 Law and disorder in thirteenth century Ireland the Dublin Parliament of 1297 1997 The Making of Ireland From Ancient Times to the Present 1998 Richard II s Expeditions to Ireland in Government War and Society in Medieval Ireland Essays by Edmund Curtis A J Otway Ruthven and James Lydon ed Peter Crooks Dublin 2008 Personal life editLydon was unmarried He battled depression in later life He was fond of music particularly opera 5 References edit Lydon James Francis Michael Dictionary of Irish Biography www dib ie Retrieved 28 August 2023 Maverick medieval historian and fellow of Trinity College Dublin The Irish Times Retrieved 28 August 2023 Lydon James F 1928 Encyclopedia com www encyclopedia com Retrieved 28 August 2023 a b Interview with Professor James Lydon History Ireland 3 1 History Publications Ltd Spring 1995 Retrieved 28 June 2014 a b c d e f g Maverick Medieval Historian and Fellow of Trinity College Dublin The Irish Times 13 July 2013 Archived from the original on 14 July 2013 Professor James Francis Michael Lydon Biography and bibliography Retrieved 30 October 2014 Haigh Christopher ed 1990 1985 The Cambridge Historical Encyclopedia of Great Britain and Ireland Cambridge Cambridge University Press p 6 ISBN 9780521395526 Further reading editGovernment War and Society in Medieval Ireland Essays by Edmund Curtis A J Otway Ruthven and James Lydon edited by Peter Crooks Four Courts Press 2008 ISBN 978 1 84682 105 9 Colony amp Frontier in Medieval England Essays presented to J F Lydon edited by T B Barry Frame Katharine Simms Hambledon Press 1995 ISBN 9781852851224 External links editThe James Lydon Research Seminar in Medieval History at Trinity College Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Lydon historian amp oldid 1198475291, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
