About John Moles
Lived 1949 – 2015 (aged 66). John Moles was a British chess player and historian.
John Moles (22 September 1949 – 4 October 2015) was Professor of Latin, a lecturer at Newcastle University and previously served as head of the classics department at Durham University.
Moles was the founder of Histos in 1997, an early example of on-line journal of ancient historiography. His first two published books were on chess, and he was twice the Ulster chess champion while at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, going on to become the Irish Champion in 1966 and 1971, with the distinction of being a member of the Chess Olympiad team in 1970 and 1972.
In 2005, Moles was part of the expert panel on Cynicism for BBC Radio 4's In Our Time.
Selected publications
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in John Moles's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Moles's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Moles?
English university lecturer
When was John Moles born?
John Moles was born on 22 September 1949 in Belfast.
When did John Moles die?
John Moles died on 4 October 2015.
What was John Moles's occupation?
John Moles was a chess player and historian.
What nationality was John Moles?
John Moles was British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Moles. https://biography.guide/john-moles/
MLA: "John Moles." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-moles/.
Chicago: "John Moles." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-moles/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:26 UTC