Fred Alexander (historian)

Fred Alexander (12 April 1899–1996) was an Australian historian who specialised in foreign affairs and policy. He was the founding Head of the University of Western Australia's Department of History.

Early life

The son of a primary school headmaster,cite book | author = Alexander, Fred | year = 1987 | title = On Campus and Off: Reminiscences and Reflections of the First Professor of Modern History in The University of Western Australia, 1916–1986 | publisher = University of Western Australia Press | id = 0855642645] Fred Alexander was born in Victoria on 12 April 1899.cite book | author = de Garis, Brian | year = 1988 | chapter = Fred Alexander: A tribute | editor = de Garis, Brian | title = Studies in Western Australian History VI | publisher = Department of History, The University of Western Australia] He attended Melbourne High School, and in 1916 won a non-residential scholarship at the University of Melbourne's Trinity College. Initially, his studies were directed towards gaining a Bachelor of Laws, but gradually developed an interest in history under the influence of one of his Professors, Ernest Scott. Eventually, he deferred his law studies for long enough to obtain a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in history. After graduating in Arts, he completed his third year of law studies, but in 1920 he won an Orient Line travelling scholarship that enabled him to pursue studies at the University of Oxford's Balliol College.

During Alexander's second year at Balliol, he suffered from a recurrent illness, and in 1923 he was advised by his doctors to take a long sea voyage. That year, he sailed for Melbourne; when his ship docked at Fremantle, Western Australia, he took the opportunity to visit Edward Shann, the foundation professor of History and Economics at the University of Western Australia. The following year, after returning to England and getting married, Alexander received from Shann an offer of appointment as Assistant Lecturer at the University of Western Australia. He arrived in Perth in September 1924.

Bibliography

Fred Alexander was the author of a great many works. The following are a few of his better known publications:cite book | author = Steadman, Margaret and Brian de Garis | year = 1988 | chapter = Fred Alexander: A select bibliography of his published works | editor = de Garis, Brian | title = Studies in Western Australian History VI | publisher = Department of History, The University of Western Australia]
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References