Michael Moissey Postan

Michael Moissey ('Munia') Postan (1899-1981) was born in Bessarabia in September 1899. He came to England in 1920, and studied at the London School of Economics from 1921 (B.Sc., 1924; M.A., 1926). In 1926 he became the research assistant of Eileen Power (1889-1940), whom he married in 1937. He edited Power's Ford Lectures for publication after her death, and published some of her essays as Medieval women (1975). Postan held lectureships at University College London, 1927-1931, and at the L.S.E, 1931-1935. He became a lecturer in economic history at Cambridge University and Fellow of Peterhouse in 1935, and was Professor of Economic History, 1938-1965. Postan edited The economic history review, 1934-1960, and was also editor of the Cambridge economic history of Europe . During the Second World War, he served in the Ministry of Economic Warfare and as Official Historian of Munitions. He helped found the International Economic History Association in 1960, a nd was knighted in 1980. He married his second wife, Lady Cynthia Keppel, in 1944, with whom he had two sons. He died on 12 December 1981.

From the guide to the Michael Postan: Papers, 20th century, (Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives)