Sir Herbert Butterfield (1900-1979) was born on 7 October 1900 in Oxenhope, near Keighley, Yorkshire. He entered Peterhouse, Cambridge, in 1919 as a scholar in history, and was elected a fellow in 1923. In 1944 he took up the university chair of modern history, and in 1963 was appointed regius professor of modern history. He had been elected master of Peterhouse in 1955, and served as vice-chancellor of the University from 1959 to 1961. Butterfield was editor of the Cambridge historical journal from 1938 to 1952, and was president of the Historical Association from 1955 to 1958. He retired from the mastership and his chair in 1968, and in that year he was knighted. He died on 20 July 1979 at Sawston, Cambridge.
Butterfield published widely throughout his working life. His most influential books were The Whig interpretation of history (1931), The Englishman and his history (1944), Christianity and history (1949), The origins of modern science (1949) and Man on his past (1955). He maintained an interest in orthodox diplomatic and political history of the eighteenth century alongside investigations into historiography and the nature of Christianity. Typical of his concern for historiographical questions was his long interest in the work of Lord Acton. He produced a number of publications on this subject, but his support for propositions to initiate a comprehensive publication of Acton's correspondence and working papers proved fruitless. In his later years Butterfield was involved with the British Committee on the Theory of International Politics, which met under his aegis in Peterhouse.
From the guide to the Sir Herbert Butterfield: Papers, 20th century (mainly 1945-1979), (Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives)
