Karl Britton graduated from the University of Cambridge (Clare College), where he was President of the Union, 1930/31, and knew Ludwig Wittgenstein. He did postgraduate work at Harvard University, and then held lectureships at Aberystwyth and Swansea before being appointed in 1951 to the chair of philosophy at King's College, Newcastle upon Tyne (then part of the University of Durham, later the University of Newcastle upon Tyne). During his tenure there he held various offices, including Dean of Arts, Public Orator, and Chairman of the Library Committee. He retired in 1975. In 1976 he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Durham.
From the guide to the Karl Britton Papers, ca. 1930- ca. 1981, (Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections)
