The Ford Lectures or the James Ford Lectures in British History, are an annual series of
public lectures held at the
University of Oxford on the subject of
English or
British history.[1] They are usually devoted to a particular historical theme and usually span six lectures over
Hilary term. They are often subsequently published as a book.
History of the lectureship
The lectures are named in honour of their benefactor,
James Ford (1779–1851).[2] Ford was educated at
King's School, Canterbury, and matriculated at
Trinity College, Oxford, in 1797. After graduating in 1801, he went on to his Master of Arts and Bachelor of Divinity degrees. He was a Fellow of Trinity College from 1807 to 1830. His antiquarian collections have been dispersed, but survive in the holdings of the
Bodleian Library, the Library of Trinity College, the
British Library, and the
Cambridge University Library.
In his will, Ford left a number of bequests, some of which were held in trust for the support of his surviving siblings. After they had all died, Oxford University received his bequest of £2,000 to fund a professorship of English history, which was to be established when the principal had grown to support payment of £100 per year. When this goal was reached in 1894, the sum was not enough to support a professor at the current stipend. After considerable discussion within the University, the funds were assigned to fund an annual lectureship in English history by a lecturer who was to be chosen annually by a board of electors. The first Ford's Lecturer in English History was
S. R. Gardiner, elected for the academic year beginning in 1896. In 1994, the
University of Oxford formally changed the official title of the series from "Ford's Lectures in English History" to "Ford's Lectures in British History".[citation needed]
As the lectures may be given in either the
Michaelmas or
Hilary terms (or partly in both), confusion can arise on publication because either
calendar year may be stated. The following list gives the
academic year.
The Ford Lectures or the James Ford Lectures in British History, are an annual series of
public lectures held at the
University of Oxford on the subject of
English or
British history.[1] They are usually devoted to a particular historical theme and usually span six lectures over
Hilary term. They are often subsequently published as a book.
History of the lectureship
The lectures are named in honour of their benefactor,
James Ford (1779–1851).[2] Ford was educated at
King's School, Canterbury, and matriculated at
Trinity College, Oxford, in 1797. After graduating in 1801, he went on to his Master of Arts and Bachelor of Divinity degrees. He was a Fellow of Trinity College from 1807 to 1830. His antiquarian collections have been dispersed, but survive in the holdings of the
Bodleian Library, the Library of Trinity College, the
British Library, and the
Cambridge University Library.
In his will, Ford left a number of bequests, some of which were held in trust for the support of his surviving siblings. After they had all died, Oxford University received his bequest of £2,000 to fund a professorship of English history, which was to be established when the principal had grown to support payment of £100 per year. When this goal was reached in 1894, the sum was not enough to support a professor at the current stipend. After considerable discussion within the University, the funds were assigned to fund an annual lectureship in English history by a lecturer who was to be chosen annually by a board of electors. The first Ford's Lecturer in English History was
S. R. Gardiner, elected for the academic year beginning in 1896. In 1994, the
University of Oxford formally changed the official title of the series from "Ford's Lectures in English History" to "Ford's Lectures in British History".[citation needed]
As the lectures may be given in either the
Michaelmas or
Hilary terms (or partly in both), confusion can arise on publication because either
calendar year may be stated. The following list gives the
academic year.