John William Fortescue

Sir John William Fortescue (28 December 1859 – 22 October 1933) was a British military historian. He was a historian of the British Army and served as Royal Librarian and Archivist at Windsor Castle from 1905 until 1926.

Early life Fortescue was born on 28 December 1859 in Madeira, the 5th son of Hugh, 3rd Earl Fortescue, by his wife Georgina, Countess Fortescue (née Dawson-Damer). Fortescue was educated at Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge, later lecturing at Oxford (DLitt (Oxon)).

Career Fortescue is best known for his major work on the history of the British Army, which he wrote between 1899 and 1930. Between 1905 and 1926, he worked as the Royal Librarian at Windsor Castle. He served as president of the Royal Historical Society from 1921 to 1925 and was elected an honorary fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. From 1926 to 1930 he edited the Soldiers' Tales book series (Peter Davies Limited).

Fortescue was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order on the 1926 King's Birthday Honours List.

Personal life In 1914, Fortescue married Winifred Beech, daughter of the Revd Howard Beech, Rector of Great Bealings, Suffolk; they had no children. Lady Fortescue (who died in 1951) was a writer and actress. He died in Cannes on 22 October 1933 at the age of 73.

Works

(English Men of Action) 1897 The Story of a Red Deer

1899–1930 A History of the British Army (in thirteen volumes, taking the story up to 1870) Available online for downloading

1930–1932 Royal Army Service Corps: A History of Transport and Supply in the British Army