Memorial service held for Sir John Elliott

A memorial service for Sir John Elliott FBA (1930-2022) was held at The University Church of St Mary the Virgin on Friday, 10 June 2022, a recording of which is available to watch below.

Sir John was Oxford University Regius Professor of Modern History from 1990-1997 and a good friend to Exeter College, helping to develop the College as a leading place of research and teaching in the field of Iberian Studies.

Although Sir John was not an Exonian, his widow Oonah is related to George Butler, student and leading Fellow at Exeter during the College’s mid-19th century renaissance; together they presented to Exeter a charming contemporary drawing of Butler and other Fellows sipping wine from silver vessels in the Fellows’ Garden.

A giant of historical scholarship on Spain and its Empire who delighted in mentoring rising talent in the field, Sir John kindly took an active interest in Iberian Studies at Exeter, a major and growing aspect of the College’s academic strength. Sir John linked Exeter to the Centre de Estudios Europa Hispanica, which is in the process of funding in the College a second junior research fellowship in the field.

Sir John also regularly attended – and indeed gave the inaugural paper at – a series of Iberian History Seminars, established by Exeter College Fellow and Associate Professor in Iberian History, Giuseppe Marcocci. You can read a personal tribute to Sir John from Professor Marcocci on the Iberian History at Oxford website.

An obituary for Sir John is available to read on the History Faculty website.

To watch Sir John’s memorial service use the video player above or you can watch on YouTube here.