James Francis Lydon

James Francis Lydon (12 May 1928 – 25 June 2013) was an Irish educator and historian. He served as the Lecky Professor of History at Trinity College, Dublin, from 1980 to 1993, and authored numerous works, particularly on the medieval history of Ireland.

Early life and education Lydon was born to a large Catholic family in Connemara in 1928, the son of a local baker. His mother raised him to be fluent in the Irish language.

Lydon studied both English and History at University College Galway, graduating in 1950.

Works Primarily an Irish mediaevalist, Lydon published his first major work, The lordship of Ireland in the Middle Ages, in 1972. Lydon's other works include:

The Gill History of Ireland (1972) Ireland in the Later Middle Ages (1973) ‘Ireland and the English Crown, 1171-1541’ in IHS (Irish Historical Studies) xxix:115 (1995) [pp.] 281-94. Law and disorder in thirteenth-century Ireland: the Dublin Parliament of 1297 (1997) The Making of Ireland: From Ancient Times to the Present (1998) 'Richard II’s Expeditions to Ireland', in Government, War and Society in Medieval Ireland: Essays by Edmund Curtis, A.J. Otway-Ruthven and James Lydon, ed. Peter Crooks (Dublin, 2008).

Personal life Lydon was unmarried. He battled depression in later life. He was fond of music, particularly opera.