Geoffrey Best
historian · biographer
- November 20, 1928 · London
- January 14, 2018
- 89 years
About Geoffrey Best
Geoffrey Best, 89, English historian.
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60 Seconds Life Story
Geoffrey Best was a distinguished English historian whose career defined the study of warfare and the life of
Geoffrey Best
1928 – 2018
60 Seconds: Geoffrey Best's Life Story
A look at the life and academic legacy of English historian Geoffrey Best, known for his studies on warfare and Winston Churchill.
Transcript
Geoffrey Best was a distinguished English historian whose career defined the study of warfare and the life of Winston Churchill. Born in London in 1928, he began his journey by teaching illiterate soldiers during his national service. After academic roles at Cambridge and Edinburgh, he joined the University of Sussex as a professor. His intellectual contributions were vast, ranging from his analysis of revolutionary Europe to the critical study of international conflict. Best famously authored major biographies including Churchill: A Study in Greatness in 2001. A dedicated scholar throughout his life, he became a fellow of the British Academy in 2003. He passed away on January 14, 2018, at the age of 89, leaving behind a profound legacy of historical insight.
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Visual credits: Geoffrey Rush (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Catalog Photo (Public domain) · HazarMan / Pixabay (Pixabay Content License) · Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Geoffrey Rush (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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Full Biography
|Geoffrey Francis Andrew Best FBA (20 November 1928 – 14 January 2018) was an English historian known for his studies of warfare and works about Winston Churchill.
Early life and family
Geoffrey Best was born in Osterley, Middlesex, on 20 November 1928. He was educated at St Paul's School, London. He undertook his national service in the Royal Army Educational Corps teaching illiterate Scottish soldiers to read and write.
Best married Marigold Davies in 1955 and they had three children together. Marigold later became involved in Quakerism and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) and she and her husband went on CND marches together.
Career
Best studied at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, becoming a fellow from 1955 to 1961 and an assistant lecturer at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, 1956 to 1961. From 1961 to 1974 he was lecturer, reader, and finally Sir Richard Lodge Professor of History at the University of Edinburgh. From 1974 to 1982 he was professor of history at the University of Sussex. He then spent six years as an academic visitor at the London School of Economics before in 1988 becoming a member of St Antony's College, University of Oxford. He was elected a fellow of the British Academy in 2003.
Writing
In 1974, Best became series editor of the Fontana History of European War and Society for which he wrote War and Society in Revolutionary Europe 1770-1870 (1982).
He wrote two books on Winston Churchill, Churchill: A Study in Greatness (2001) and Churchill and War (2005).
Death
Best died on 14 January 2018.
Selected publications
Authored
- Shaftesbury. Batsford, London, 1964.
- Temporal Pillars. Queen Anne's Bounty, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and the Church of England. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1964.
- Bishop Westcott and the Miners. Syndics of the Cambridge University Press, London, 1967. (Bishop Westcott memorial lecture)
- History, Politics and Universities: Inaugural Lecture Delivered on Tuesday 4th March 1969. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 1969.
- Mid-Victorian Britain, 1851-1875. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, 1971. ISBN 0297002767
- Humanity in Warfare: the Modern History of the International Law of Armed Conflict. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, 1980. ISBN 0297777378
- Honour among Men and Nations: Transformations of an Idea. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, 1981. ISBN 0802024599
- War and Society in Revolutionary Europe 1770-1870. Leicester University Press, Leicester, 1982. ISBN 071851226X
- Nuremberg and After: The Continuing History of War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity. University of Reading, Reading, 1984. (Stenton lecture)
- War and Law since 1945. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1994. ISBN 978-0198219910
- Churchill: A Study in Greatness. Bloomsbury, London, 2001. ISBN 9781852852535
- Churchill and War. Hambledon Continuum, 2005. ISBN 978-1852854645
- A Life of Learning: Selective Memoirs of Geoffrey Best. Matador, Kibworth Beauchamp, 2010.
Edited
- Church, R.W. The Oxford Movement: Twelve Years, 1833-1845. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1970. (Edited and introduced) ISBN 0226106187
- War, Economy and the Military Mind. Croom Helm, London, 1976. (With Andrew Wheatcroft)
- History, Society and the Churches: Essays in Honour of Owen Chadwick. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1985. (with Derek Beales)
- The Permanent Revolution: The French Revolution and its Legacy, 1789-1989. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1988.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Best
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 21, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Geoffrey Best's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what location was Geoffrey Best born?
- A.Edinburgh
- B.Osterleycorrect
- C.Cambridge
- D.London
Geoffrey Best was born in Osterley, Middlesex, on 20 November 1928.
Source: Early life and family section
2.Which school did Geoffrey Best attend for his education during his youth?
- A.St Antony's College
- B.St Paul's Schoolcorrect
- C.Corpus Christi College
- D.Trinity Hall
Geoffrey Best was educated at St Paul's School, London.
Source: Early life and family section
3.During his national service, what task was Geoffrey Best assigned by the Royal Army Educational Corps?
- A.Serving as a medical orderly
- B.Drafting administrative maps for military maneuvers
- C.Training soldiers in weaponry
- D.Teaching illiterate Scottish soldiers to read and writecorrect
Geoffrey Best undertook his national service in the Royal Army Educational Corps teaching illiterate Scottish soldiers to read and write.
Source: Early life and family section
4.Whom did Geoffrey Best marry in 1955?
- A.Marigold Daviescorrect
- B.Elizabeth Lodge
- C.Sarah Williams
- D.Anne Chadwick
Geoffrey Best married Marigold Davies in 1955.
Source: Early life and family section
5.Geoffrey Best's wife, Marigold Davies, was involved in which political or social movement?
- A.The Royal Historical Society
- B.The Suffragette movement
- C.The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmamentcorrect
- D.The Labour Party
Marigold Davies became involved in Quakerism and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, often marching with her husband.
Source: Early life and family section
6.At which academic institution was Geoffrey Best a fellow from 1955 to 1961?
- A.London School of Economics
- B.Trinity Hall, Cambridgecorrect
- C.University of Edinburgh
- D.University of Sussex
Geoffrey Best studied at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, becoming a fellow there from 1955 to 1961.
Source: Career section
7.Geoffrey Best served as a professor of history at which university from 1974 to 1982?
- A.University of Edinburgh
- B.University of Sussexcorrect
- C.University of Oxford
- D.University of Cambridge
From 1974 to 1982, Geoffrey Best was professor of history at the University of Sussex.
Source: Career section
8.In what year was Geoffrey Best elected as a fellow of the British Academy?
- A.2003correct
- B.2005
- C.1994
- D.1988
Geoffrey Best was elected a fellow of the British Academy in 2003.
Source: Career section
9.What role did Geoffrey Best take on for the Fontana History of European War and Society in 1974?
- A.Marketing director
- B.Series editorcorrect
- C.Publisher
- D.Lead illustrator
In 1974, Geoffrey Best became series editor of the Fontana History of European War and Society.
Source: Writing section
10.Which book did Geoffrey Best publish in 1982 regarding the revolutionary era?
- A.War and Society in Revolutionary Europe 1770-1870correct
- B.Churchill and War
- C.Humanity in Warfare
- D.War and Law since 1945
Geoffrey Best wrote War and Society in Revolutionary Europe 1770-1870, which was published in 1982.
Source: Writing section
11.Geoffrey Best wrote which of the following books about Winston Churchill in 2001?
- A.The Life of Churchill
- B.Churchill and War
- C.Churchill: A Study in Greatnesscorrect
- D.Winston Churchill: History and Politics
Geoffrey Best wrote Churchill: A Study in Greatness, which was published in 2001.
Source: Writing section
12.On what date did Geoffrey Best pass away?
- A.14 January 2018correct
- B.1 January 2010
- C.4 March 1969
- D.20 November 1928
Geoffrey Best died on 14 January 2018.
Source: Death section
13.Which title was one of the books authored by Geoffrey Best in 1964?
- A.History, Politics and Universities
- B.Shaftesburycorrect
- C.Humanity in Warfare
- D.Mid-Victorian Britain
Geoffrey Best authored the book Shaftesbury in 1964.
Source: Selected publications section
14.What is the subject of Geoffrey Best's 1967 publication, Bishop Westcott and the Miners?
- A.A biography of a politician
- B.A history of mining unions
- C.A social study of the 19th century
- D.A memorial lecturecorrect
Bishop Westcott and the Miners was published by Geoffrey Best in 1967 as a Bishop Westcott memorial lecture.
Source: Selected publications section
15.Geoffrey Best co-edited which work with Andrew Wheatcroft in 1976?
- A.The Permanent Revolution
- B.History, Society and the Churches
- C.War, Economy and the Military Mindcorrect
- D.The Oxford Movement
Geoffrey Best co-authored War, Economy and the Military Mind with Andrew Wheatcroft in 1976.
Source: Selected publications section
16.In what year did Geoffrey Best publish his selective memoirs titled A Life of Learning?
- A.2010correct
- B.2005
- C.2003
- D.1994
Geoffrey Best published A Life of Learning: Selective Memoirs of Geoffrey Best in 2010.
Source: Selected publications section
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