Margaret Aston

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

FRHistS FBA
Born
Margaret Evelyn Bridges

(1932-10-09)9 October 1932
Died22 November 2014(2014-11-22) (aged 82)
NationalityBritish
Other namesMargaret Evelyn Buxton
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1954; div. 1969)​
Paul Buxton
​
​
(m. 1971; died 2009)​
Children2
Parent(s)
Ecclesiastical history
Institutions

Margaret Evelyn Buxton

ecclesiastical history. During her career, she lectured at both the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge
.

Early life

Aston was born on 9 October 1932 to

Head Girl of her school.[1]

She was awarded a scholarship to study history at the

postgraduate. Her supervisor was K. B. McFarlane, described by The Independent as "the pre-eminent authority on 15th century England, but notorious as a woman-hater".[1] She completed a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree in 1962.[3]

Academic career

In 1956, Aston became a

The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.[2] Her first book, a biography of Archbishop Thomas Arundel, was published in 1967.[1] Her next book, The Fifteenth Century: The Prospect of Europe, was written during a residency at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. and published in 1968.[2]

In 1971, she married a diplomat. This meant she continued her academic career but, for the most part, without any attachment to a university.[2] In the 1980s, they lived in Holywood, County Down, while her husband served as Under-Secretary for Northern Ireland.[1] From 1984 to 1985, she was a senior research fellow at Queen's University Belfast. During that time, she researched and wrote what has been described as her seminal work, England’s Iconoclasts.[2]

Death

Aston died on 22 November 2014, aged 82.[1] Her body was found in the moat of Ongar Castle, Essex. Her family home, Castle House, was in the grounds of the ruin. Police did not treat her death as suspicious and it was concluded she had died from natural causes.[4]

Personal life

In 1954, she married Trevor Aston. He was a historian and a fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford.[2] They had a difficult marriage, due in part because Trevor was suffering from bipolar disorder, and separated after four years.[1] They finally divorced in 1969.[2]

She met her second husband, Paul Buxton, while undertaking research in the

step-mother to his three children from a previous marriage, and together they had two children.[1]

Honours

In the 2013

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) 'for services to Historical Scholarship'.[6]

On 5 March 1987, she was elected

Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS).[10]

Works

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Sheppard, Martin (14 December 2014). "Margaret Aston: Historian who illuminated the study of religious life in England between the late Middle Ages and the Civil War". The Independent. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Margaret Aston - obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  3. ^ a b "ASTON, Dr Margaret Evelyn, (Hon. Mrs Buxton)". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. April 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  4. ^ Davis, Barnaby (28 November 2014). "Ongar historian death is not being treated as suspicious by Essex police". East London and West Essex Guardian. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  5. ^ "ONGAR: Ex-diplomat Paul William Buxton dies at 83". Essex Chronicle. 27 January 2009. Archived from the original on 5 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  6. ^ "No. 60534". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 June 2013. p. 7.
  7. ^ "Fellows Directory - A". About Us. Society of Antiquaries of London. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  8. ^ "ASTON, Dr Margaret, CBE (09/10/1932-29/11/2014)". British Academy Fellows. British Academy. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  9. ^ Past Presidents - Ecclesiastical History Society
  10. ^ "Fellow - A" (PDF). Fellows and Members. Royal Historical Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
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