Alfred Eckhard Zimmern

Alfred Eckhard Zimmern
Born	26 January 1879 Surbiton, Surrey, U.K.
Died	24 November 1957 Avon, Connecticut, U.S.
Education	Winchester College
Alma mater	New College, Oxford
Occupation	Classical scholar, historian

Sir Alfred Eckhard Zimmern (1879–1957) was a British classical scholar and historian, and political scientist writing on international relations. His book The Third British Empire was among the first to apply the expression "British Commonwealth" to the British Empire. He is also credited with the phrase "welfare state", (It was made popular a few years later by William Temple.)

Zimmern was born on 26 January 1879 in Surbiton, Surrey, UK. His father was a naturalised British citizen, born in Germany. The writers, translators and suffragettes Helen Zimmern and Alice Zimmern were his cousins.

Alfred was brought up a Christian and later an active participant in the World Council of Churches. However, later in life he also became a supporter of Zionism. He was educated at Winchester College, and read classics at New College, Oxford, where he won the Stanhope essay prize in 1902. At Berlin University, he came under the influence of Wilamowitz and Meyer.

He was Lecturer in Ancient History, New College, Oxford (1903), and Fellow and tutor, New College (1904–09). Subsequently, he was staff inspector, Board of Education (1912–15) and a member, Political Intelligence Department, Foreign Office (1918–19).

He was then Wilson Professor of International Politics, the first Professor of International Politics (also known as International Relations) in the whole world, University College of Wales (1919–21); having left Aberystwyth, he taught at Cornell University in 1922 and 1923.

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