Knighthood for leading historian

Eminent historian Tom Devine has received a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Celebrating a distinguished career

Professor Devine's knighthood for services to scholarship coincides with his retirement in July.

It is recognition of 45 years of academic service to the Universities of Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Strathclyde.

To mark his departure from the University, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown will join Professor Devine at an event in McEwan Hall on Monday, 16 June.

A video of the event - Scotland’s Past and Scotland’s Present - will be available online after it takes place.

This recognition would not have been possible without the collective support over my career of numerous colleagues, students and, above all, of my wife Catherine, our children and grandchildren. I thank them all most warmly.

Unique honour

Professor Devine is the only living scholar in the humanities and social sciences in the UK to have been elected to the three learned academies in the British Isles: Royal Society of Edinburgh, Royal Irish Academy and the British Academy (FRSE, HonMRIA, FBA).

He is currently the Personal Senior Research Chair of History at the University of Edinburgh and Director of the University’s Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies.