The publication of The Whig Interpretation of History in 1931 established Herbert Butterfield as a critical voice in English historiography. Born in Oxenhope in 1900, he spent his career at the University of Cambridge, serving as both a historian and a philosopher of history who explored the relationship between religious faith and the analysis of past events.
Academic Career at Cambridge
After attending the Trade and Grammar School in Keighley, Butterfield entered Peterhouse, Cambridge, in 1919. He earned a BA in 1922 and maintained an association with the university as a fellow from 1928 until his death in 1979. His institutional leadership included serving as Master of Peterhouse from 1955 to 1968, Vice-Chancellor of the University from 1959 to 1961, and Regius Professor of Modern History from 1963 to 1968. He was knighted in 1968.
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Butterfield's 1931 volume challenged historians who interpreted the past through the lens of modern progress. He argued that this approach distorted historical events to fit contemporary issues. Instead, he maintained that researchers should attempt to understand the past as it was perceived by those living through it. He viewed the study of history as an analysis of mediations rather than a search for origins.
Christianity and the History of Science
As a lifelong Methodist, Butterfield often integrated his Christian perspective into his scholarly work. In his 1949 book Christianity and History, he asserted that while religion provided a personal framework, historians could not uncover divine intervention in historical processes. His 1949 publication, The Origins of Modern Science, 1300-1800, examined the Scientific Revolution, though it later faced scrutiny for its generalizations regarding Renaissance magic.
Early Recognition and Diplomatic Theory
Early in his career, Butterfield received multiple honors for his writing, including the 1922 University Member's Prize for an essay on Charles Dickens. He won the Le Bas Prize in 1923 for The Historical Novel and the Prince Consort Prize in 1924 for his research on peace negotiations between 1806 and 1808. During the Cold War, he warned against the dangers of self-righteous ideological systems in international politics.
Fast facts
- Born: 1900, Oxenhope
- Died: 1979, Sawston
- Education: Peterhouse, Cambridge
- Knighted: 1968
- Regius Professor of Modern History: 1963-1968
- Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge: 1959-1961
- Master of Peterhouse: 1955-1968
- Fellow: British Academy
Questions readers ask
What was the main argument of The Whig Interpretation of History?
Butterfield criticized historians for retrospectively framing the past as a linear progression toward the present, which he argued distorted historical reality.
Did Butterfield believe historians could detect God's role in history?
No, while he was a devout Christian, he believed historians could not identify the specific hand of God in historical events.
Achievements
- Fellow of the British Academy
- Knight Bachelor
