Geoffrey Kirk

Geoffrey Stephen Kirk, DSC, FBA (/kɜːrk/; 3 December 1921 – 10 March 2003) was an English classicist known for his writings on Ancient Greek literature and mythology. He was Regius Professor of Greek at the University of Cambridge from 1974 to 1984.

Kirk was born and grew up in Nottingham, the son of Frederick Kirk, MC. He was educated at Rossall School and Clare College, Cambridge.

Kirk's time at Cambridge was interrupted by war: he joined the Royal Navy in 1941 and was commissioned as an officer one year later. He spent much of his service in the Aegean Sea with the Levant Schooner Flotilla, which included schooners and caïques engaged in irregular operations in support of Allied special forces. Kirk fought on many Greek islands and along a wide section of the Turkish coast. He was engaged in operations at Tekegas Barnu, Didyma, Icaria and Andros. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) in 1945.