Hugh Trevor-Roper, Baron Dacre of Glanton
- Born:
- 15 January 1914, Glanton, Northumberland, England
- Died:
- 26 January 2003, Oxford, England
- Nationality:
- British
- Profession(s):
- Historian, Regius Professor of Modern History
Early Life and Education
- Educated at Shrewsbury School and Christ Church, Oxford.
- Achieved a First-Class Honours degree in Classics and History at Oxford.
- Early research focused on 16th and 17th century Europe.
Career and Major Achievements
- Served in British Intelligence during World War II, specializing in German affairs.
- Investigated Adolf Hitler's death and final days in the Berlin bunker for British Intelligence immediately after the war.
- Published The Last Days of Hitler in 1947, establishing his reputation as a historian.
- Became Regius Professor of Modern History at Oxford University in 1957, a position he held until 1980.
- Known for his broad historical interests and engaging lecture style.
- His work on European history included significant contributions to understanding the Reformation, the Thirty Years' War, and the English Civil War.
- Later life was marked by controversy surrounding the publication of the Hitler Diaries, which he initially authenticated but later disavowed. This event is often discussed in relation to Hugh Trevor-Roper: The Biography, a work which explores his entire life and career.
Notable Works
- The Last Days of Hitler (1947)
- Archbishop Laud, 1573-1645 (1940)
- Hitler's Table Talk, 1941-1944 (editor) (1953)
- Religion, the Reformation and Social Change (1967)
- Princes and Artists: Patronage and Ideology at Four Habsburg Courts 1517-1633 (1976)
- Renaissance Essays (1985)
- From Counter-Reformation to Glorious Revolution (1992)
Legacy and Impact
Hugh Trevor-Roper was a prominent and influential historian of the 20th century. He is remembered for his scholarly contributions to our understanding of European history, particularly the early modern period, and for his engaging writing style. While the Hitler Diaries controversy marked a significant challenge to his reputation, his early work, especially The Last Days of Hitler, remains a significant contribution to historical scholarship.