Manning Clark - Emeritus Professor, Australian historian

Abstract

Professor Manning Clark was born in 1915 and was educated at Mont Albert Central School, Melbourne Grammar School, the University of Melbourne and Oxford.

He began teaching history at schools in England and Australia before accepting a lectureship at Melbourne University in 1944 in Political Science. In 1946 he was appointed lecturer and then senior lecturer in Australasian History and Modern History.

In 1949 the Canberra University College (later The Faculties, ANU) established its first foundation chairs and Professor Clark was offered the Chair of History. He continued his historical writings and in 1962 published the first volume of A History of Australia. He resigned from the position of Head of Department in 1972 to concentrate on this work and was appointed to the first Chair of Australian History.

Professor Clark also taught Australian history at Duke University and Harvard.

He was awarded the title of Emeritus Professor in 1975 after retiring from the Australian National University. His association with the University continued with his appointment as Library Fellow (1975-81) and as a Visiting Fellow from 1982.

Professor Clark has received numerous awards and medals for his writings on Australian history and was named Australian of the Year for 1980.