P.A. Brunt
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P. A. Brunt FBA |
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|---|---|
| Born |
Peter Astbury Brunt 23 June 1917 Coulsdon, Surrey |
| Died | 5 November 2005 (aged 88) Oxford, Oxfordshire |
| Cause of death | Cancer |
| Alma mater | Oriel College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Academic, ancient historian |
| Title | Camden Professor of Ancient History |
| Term | 1970–1982 |
| Predecessor | Ronald Syme |
| Successor | Fergus Millar |
Peter Astbury Brunt, FBA (23 June 1917 – 5 November 2005), known as P. A. Brunt, was a British academic and ancient historian. He was Camden Professor of Ancient History at the University of Oxford from 1970 to 1982. During his career, he lectured at the University of St Andrews, Oriel College, Oxford, Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, and Brasenose College, Oxford.
Brunt was born on 23 June 1917 in Coulsdon, Surrey, to the Rev Samuel Brunt, a Methodist minister, and Gladys Eileen Brunt (née Blewett). He was educated at Ipswich School, a public school in Ipswich, Suffolk. In 1935, he won a scholarship to study history at Oriel College, Oxford. The decision to study modern history was based on his belief that his Ancient Greek, specifically his composition, was not good enough to win a scholarship to read classics. However, he did change to classics and took a First in Mods in 1937 and a First in Greats in 1939.
Having graduated with a double first, he was awarded the Craven Fellowship in 1939. However, with the outbreak of World War II, his academic career went on hold. He volunteered but flat feet prevented him from serving in the military. Instead, he joined the Ministry of Shipping, later the Ministry of War Transport, as a civil servant. He served as Temporary Assistant Principal, and later Temporary Principal. His main duties involved the relinquishing of French ships, and dealing with the legal and diplomatic fallout from this. He additionally spent his nights on fire fighting duty with the Air Raid Precautions. His work as a civil servant allowed him to develop some skill as an administrator and afforded him experiences that he might not have had as a student. Notably, during air-raid duties he made the acquaintance of his fellow worker Violet Bonham Carter, and in the Ministry of Shipping he started a long friendship with Derek Allen.
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