Edward Price Furber (1900–1982) was an American historian and legal scholar, primarily known for his meticulous editorial work on the historical records of the British House of Lords. His contributions are considered fundamental to the study of English legal and parliamentary history during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1900, Edward Price Furber pursued his higher education in history. He earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1930. His doctoral dissertation was titled "Henry Brooke, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland: A Study in Anglo-Irish Relations," demonstrating an early focus on British Isles legal and political history.
Career and Major Contributions
Furber dedicated a significant portion of his career to historical scholarship, particularly in the field of legal and parliamentary records. His most monumental achievement was his work as the editor of The Records of the House of Lords 1660-1714. This multi-volume series, often cited as HLRO, involved the detailed transcription, editing, and annotation of a vast collection of parliamentary documents, including petitions, judicial proceedings, legislative drafts, and administrative papers from a crucial period in English history.
Published by His Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) for the House of Lords Record Office (now part of the Parliamentary Archives), Furber's editorial work provided scholars with an indispensable resource for understanding:
- The evolution of parliamentary procedure.
- The judicial functions of the House of Lords.
- The legislative process and the development of common law.
- Social and political issues reflected in the petitions and private bills of the era.
His meticulous attention to detail and rigorous scholarly approach made these complex historical documents accessible and interpretable for subsequent generations of historians, legal scholars, and political scientists.
Legacy
Edward Price Furber's work continues to be a cornerstone for research into post-Restoration British political and legal history. His edited volumes remain essential primary source collections, frequently referenced in academic literature dealing with the Glorious Revolution, the development of the British constitution, and the history of common law. He passed away in 1982.
Selected Works
- Furber, Edward Price (ed.). The Records of the House of Lords 1660-1714. (Multiple volumes published by HMSO for the House of Lords Record Office).
- Furber, Edward Price. "Henry Brooke, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland: A Study in Anglo-Irish Relations." Ph.D. diss., Harvard University, 1930.