The Character of the British Empire

British historian, author, and lecturer Ramsay Muir (1872-1941) made major contributions to the study of European history. Muir was born in Otterburn, Northumberland, and attended the University College, Liverpool before going on to Balliol College in Oxford. Muir started teaching history as an assistant professor at the University of Manchester in 1898, and the following year he was hired as a lecturer at Liverpool. Muir was well-known for his engaging and approachable teaching methods and served as an instructor at a number of institutions in England, including the Universities of Manchester and Liverpool. The Growth of Europe: The Culmination of Modern History is still one of his most widely read books. He also wrote several books on European history. Muir was active in politics in addition to his academic career and represented the Scottish National Party in parliament from 1929 to 1931. From 1922 and 1935, Muir stood eight times for Parliament as a member of the Liberal Party. He was elected as the MP for Rochdale in Lancashire in the general election of 1923, but he lost that seat in 1924. The study of European history continues to be influenced by Muir's writing, and he is recognized as a gifted author and lecturer who made a substantial addition to our comprehension of the contemporary world.