Keith Hancock

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sir William Keith Hancock (6 June 1898 - 13 August 1988) was an Australian historian. He was born in the city of Melbourne, Australia and attended a grammar school in Melbourne, before studying at the University of Melbourne. He then lectured at the University of Western Australia. Too young to see service in World War I without permission from his parents, it was said that he always felt shame about the fact he could not fight.

In 1923, he gained admission to Balliol College, Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. He graduated with a first class degree and All Souls College elected him to a fellowship. In 1924, he gained a professorship in modern history at the University of Adelaide, which he held until 1933. His book Australia published in 1930, and notable for its ironic tone, particularly in criticism of Australian institutions such as tariff protection, was highly influential, and is still frequently quoted today.

In 1933, the University of Birmingham appointed him professor of modern history. He remained in Birmingham for the next decade until he moved to Oxford becoming Chichele Professor of Economic History. During his time at Birmingham he was appointed editor of the United Kingdom Civil Series of the History of the Second World War and he wrote British War Economy, the introductory volume to that series, with Margaret Gowing. He also became a firewatcher during the war. He was knighted in 1953 partially for his services in writing and editing the histories.

After the publication of British War Economy in 1949 he left Oxford and headed the new Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London. It was in 1957 that he left the UK again to return to his native land. The new Australian National University offered him a post of professor of history and also as director of the Research School of Social Sciences.

He retired in 1965 and moved south of Canberra, espousing environmental politics in his last years. He also disliked American bases on Australian soil. He died in Canberra.