Constance Mary Turnbull (9 February 1927 – 5 September 2008) was a British historian known for her work on Southeast Asian history, in particular on the history of Singapore. Her expertise on Singapore history and citations from her book The Straits Settlements was instrumental to the case presented by the Singapore legal team to the International Court of Justice, in claiming sovereignty over Pedra Branca in 2008.[1]
Mary Turnbull was born the only child to David Turnbull (1900-1961), a native farm-owner in the Cheviot Hills, and Edna Mary Williamson (1901-1991), a schoolteacher from Laxey in the Isle of Man, on a farm not far from Wooler, Northumberland.[2] In the 1920s Coventry grew to be the centre of UK motor industry, and her family moved to the thriving city when her father, who had been forced give up farming as a result of the Great Depression, found a job in motorcar engineering at the Rootes car factory. Throughout her childhood, Mary Turnbull led a happy but simple life despite having to live with different relatives during the Great Depression, while her parents were both looking for work in Coventry and being evacuated several times during World War II.[3] She often described the experience of living through the Coventry Blitz and later, as a university student, the "doodlebugs" (V-1 flying bombs) in London.
After graduation from Bedford College, Mary Turnbull worked for Imperial Chemical Industries in the staff training department.[2] Looking for a more adventurous life, she joined the Malayan Civil Service, the first female administrative officer to be recruited to the Service, and one of only two women who would ever work in that capacity for the colonial authorities.[4] She later joined the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, but on her marriage to businessman Leonard Rayner in 1962, moved to Singapore. Here she was a member of the History Department until 1971 when she moved to Hong Kong to take up a post as lecturer at Hong Kong University's History Department.[4] It was during her time in Hong Kong that Mary Turnbull first published her book History of Singapore.[citation needed]
In 1988, Mary Turnbull retired from her position as Head of the History Department at Hong Kong University, although she remained in Hong Kong until her husband, Leonard, also retired in 1990. The couple moved back to the UK and settled in the village of Sulgrave, Northamptonshire. Mary Turnbull continued to write, and travel around Britain, Europe, the United States, Australia and New Zealand and on occasions, visited Singapore and Malaysia. In the 1990s she was commissioned by The Straits Times to compile the history of the Singapore newspaper company and in 1995, Dateline Singapore: 150 Years Of The Straits Times that resulted from nearly 3 years' of work, was launched to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the newspaper title.[1]
Following the death of her husband in 1995, Mary Turnbull moved to Oxford in 1999,[2] where she became a fellow of St Antony's College and a member of Oxford University's Strategic Studies Group (OUSSG).[citation needed] On the afternoon of 5 September 2008, she was diagnosed with a serious heart condition during a routine check-up and died hours later of a ruptured aorta while awaiting surgery.[citation needed] She had completed the final revisions for the third edition of A History of Singapore, just days before her death.[1]
Mills, L. A. (1961) British Malaya, 1824-67. Singapore: Malayan Branch Royal Asiatic Society.
Turnbull, C. M. (1969) Modern Singapore a commemorative for Singapore's 150th anniversary
Turnbull, C. M. (1972) The Straits Settlements, 1826 - 67: Indian Presidency to Crown Colony. London: Athlone Press.
Turnbull, C. M. (1977) A History of Singapore, 1819 - 1975. Singapore: Oxford University Press.
Turnbull, C. M. (1989) A History of Singapore, 1819 - 1988. Singapore: Oxford University Press.
Turnbull, C. M. (1980, 1981, 1989) A History of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.
Turnbull, C. M. (1995) Dateline Singapore: 150 years of the Straits Times. Singapore: Times Editions
Turnbull, C. M. (2009) A History of Modern Singapore 1819 - 2005 (published posthumously). Singapore: NUS Press.
Referencesedit
^ abcLiaw, Wy-Cin (11 September 2008). "Expert on S'pore history dies at 81". Straits Times. p. B7. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
^ abcdGullick, John (2008). "Obituary: Professor Mary Turnbull". Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 81 (2 (295)): 99–103. ISSN 0126-7353.
^Revathy, C. (2006). Jayakumar, Shashi (ed.). Prof Mary Turnbull. Vol. accession no. 003025 (reel 1). Singapore: National Archives. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
^ ab"'Too little, yet too much information'". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
^"Constance Mary Turnbull". Singapore Women's Hall of Fame. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
January 01, 1970
mary, turnbull, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, january, 20. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Mary Turnbull news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2022 Learn how and when to remove this message Constance Mary Turnbull 9 February 1927 5 September 2008 was a British historian known for her work on Southeast Asian history in particular on the history of Singapore Her expertise on Singapore history and citations from her book The Straits Settlements was instrumental to the case presented by the Singapore legal team to the International Court of Justice in claiming sovereignty over Pedra Branca in 2008 1 Constance Mary TurnbullBornConstance Mary Turnbull 1927 02 09 9 February 1927West Lyham near Wooler Northumberland EnglandDied5 September 2008 2008 09 05 aged 81 Oxford EnglandOccupationHistorian authorEducationStoke Park Grammar School CoventryAlma materBedford College University of LondonPeriod1971 2008SubjectSingaporean historyNotable worksThe Straits Settlements 1826 67 Indian presidency to crown colony 1972 A History of Singapore 1977 Dateline Singapore 150 Years Of The Straits Times 1995 SpouseLeonard Adrian Rayner m 1962 died 1995 wbr Children2 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Biography 3 Bibliography 4 ReferencesEarly life and education editMary Turnbull was born the only child to David Turnbull 1900 1961 a native farm owner in the Cheviot Hills and Edna Mary Williamson 1901 1991 a schoolteacher from Laxey in the Isle of Man on a farm not far from Wooler Northumberland 2 In the 1920s Coventry grew to be the centre of UK motor industry and her family moved to the thriving city when her father who had been forced give up farming as a result of the Great Depression found a job in motorcar engineering at the Rootes car factory Throughout her childhood Mary Turnbull led a happy but simple life despite having to live with different relatives during the Great Depression while her parents were both looking for work in Coventry and being evacuated several times during World War II 3 She often described the experience of living through the Coventry Blitz and later as a university student the doodlebugs V 1 flying bombs in London Mary Turnbull went to study at Bedford College London in 1944 and graduated in 1947 2 Biography editAfter graduation from Bedford College Mary Turnbull worked for Imperial Chemical Industries in the staff training department 2 Looking for a more adventurous life she joined the Malayan Civil Service the first female administrative officer to be recruited to the Service and one of only two women who would ever work in that capacity for the colonial authorities 4 She later joined the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur but on her marriage to businessman Leonard Rayner in 1962 moved to Singapore Here she was a member of the History Department until 1971 when she moved to Hong Kong to take up a post as lecturer at Hong Kong University s History Department 4 It was during her time in Hong Kong that Mary Turnbull first published her book History of Singapore citation needed In 1988 Mary Turnbull retired from her position as Head of the History Department at Hong Kong University although she remained in Hong Kong until her husband Leonard also retired in 1990 The couple moved back to the UK and settled in the village of Sulgrave Northamptonshire Mary Turnbull continued to write and travel around Britain Europe the United States Australia and New Zealand and on occasions visited Singapore and Malaysia In the 1990s she was commissioned by The Straits Times to compile the history of the Singapore newspaper company and in 1995 Dateline Singapore 150 Years Of The Straits Times that resulted from nearly 3 years of work was launched to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the newspaper title 1 Following the death of her husband in 1995 Mary Turnbull moved to Oxford in 1999 2 where she became a fellow of St Antony s College and a member of Oxford University s Strategic Studies Group OUSSG citation needed On the afternoon of 5 September 2008 she was diagnosed with a serious heart condition during a routine check up and died hours later of a ruptured aorta while awaiting surgery citation needed She had completed the final revisions for the third edition of A History of Singapore just days before her death 1 Mary Turnbull was posthumously inducted to the Singapore Women s Hall of Fame in 2014 5 Bibliography editMills L A 1961 British Malaya 1824 67 Singapore Malayan Branch Royal Asiatic Society Turnbull C M 1969 Modern Singapore a commemorative for Singapore s 150th anniversary Turnbull C M 1972 The Straits Settlements 1826 67 Indian Presidency to Crown Colony London Athlone Press Turnbull C M 1977 A History of Singapore 1819 1975 Singapore Oxford University Press Turnbull C M 1989 A History of Singapore 1819 1988 Singapore Oxford University Press Turnbull C M 1980 1981 1989 A History of Malaysia Singapore and Brunei Sydney Allen amp Unwin Turnbull C M 1995 Dateline Singapore 150 years of the Straits Times Singapore Times Editions Turnbull C M 2009 A History of Modern Singapore 1819 2005 published posthumously Singapore NUS Press References edit a b c Liaw Wy Cin 11 September 2008 Expert on S pore history dies at 81 Straits Times p B7 Retrieved 5 January 2022 a b c d Gullick John 2008 Obituary Professor Mary Turnbull Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 81 2 295 99 103 ISSN 0126 7353 Revathy C 2006 Jayakumar Shashi ed Prof Mary Turnbull Vol accession no 003025 reel 1 Singapore National Archives Retrieved 24 December 2008 a b Too little yet too much information eresources nlb gov sg Retrieved 5 January 2022 Constance Mary Turnbull Singapore Women s Hall of Fame Retrieved 10 November 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mary Turnbull amp oldid 1164141471, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
