Malcolm Chase

Malcolm Chase in the Brotherton Library, University of Leeds, 2014. Malcolm Sherwin Chase (3 February 1957 – 29 February 2020) was a social historian noted especially for his work on Chartism.

Early life and education Chase was born in Grays to the carpenter (later building surveyor) Sherwin Chase and bank clerk Elizabeth (née Austin). He attended Palmer’s boys school before taking a BA in history at the University of York, graduating in 1978. He proceeded to the University of Sussex where he took a MA in modern social history (1979) and then a DPhil in 1984 under the supervision of J. F. C. Harrison (for whom Chase later edited a Festschrift).

Academic career Chase began working in the Department of Adult Continuing Education at the University of Leeds in 1982 and in 2002 became head of what was by then the School of Continuing Education. He moved to Leeds's School of History in 2005 and in the same year commenced a two-year term as president of the Society for the Study of Labour History. He was promoted to Professor of Social History in 2009, and served as chair of the Social History Society from 2011 to 2014.

Marriage In 1983 Chase married Shirley Fereday, whom he had met at Sussex University. They had a daughter.

Death Chase died from a brain tumour on 29 February 2020, aged 63.