Sir Colin Lucas Received Honorary Doctorate from Faculty of Philosophy

21 October 2013

Historian honoured for his academic achievements

Photo: Rothe

Sir Colin Lucas (left), Prof. Dr. Stefan M. Maul, Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Prof. Dr. Bernhard Eitel (right), Rector of Heidelberg University.

Sir Colin Lucas, historian and longstanding Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, received an honorary doctorate from the Heidelberg Faculty of Philosophy in recognition of his academic achievements. Sir Colin Lucas is regarded as one of the most eminent experts on the history of the French Revolution and as an outstanding figure in international academic life. He enjoys worldwide recognition as a researcher, teacher and head of important academic institutions, the Faculty of Philosophy asserted in its words of appreciation and acknowledgement. The honorary doctorate was awarded on Saturday, 19 October 2013, as part of the Annual Celebration, the ceremony marking the start of the academic year at Heidelberg University.

With Sir Colin Lucas, the Faculty of Philosophy honoured an outstanding academic who broke new ground with his research on the epoch-making event of the French Revolution. Furthermore, the certificate accompanying the honorary doctorate pointed out that the historian has inspired many other research projects with his pioneering findings. Sir Colin Lucas has close ties with Heidelberg University. Since 2006 he has been a member of its Academic Advisory Council, which provides support for the process of implementing the university’s institutional strategy and its general development. The laudation was delivered by Prof. Dr. Stefan M. Maul, Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy.

Sir Colin Lucas has taught and done research at the universities of Sheffield, Manchester, Chicago and Oxford in particular. In addition, he has held many visiting professorships and fellowships abroad. From 1997 to 2004 he was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, then until 2009 Warden of the Rhodes Trust, the university’s international scholarship programme. From 2006 to 2010 he was Chair of the Board of the British Library. Besides that, he has occupied numerous other functions, including that of advisor to international universities and academic institutions, and as a trustee of major foundations. His life and work have brought him many national and international tributes, e.g. the French légion d’honneur, and he was knighted in 2002.