Anthony Steel (historian)

Anthony Steel (1900-1973) was a British historian specializing in the late medieval and early modern periods of English history. He is particularly known for his work on the reign of Richard II and on the early history of the University of Cambridge.

Steel was educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford. He served in the Royal Artillery during World War I. After the war, he pursued an academic career, holding positions at the University of Cambridge and later at University College, Cardiff, where he was Professor of History from 1946 until his retirement in 1967.

His major publications include Richard II (1941), a standard biography of the king, which has remained influential for its balanced assessment of Richard's character and reign, and The Universities of Cambridge and Oxford (1928), a concise but insightful survey of the two institutions. He also wrote extensively on other aspects of English history, including The Receipt of the Exchequer, 1356-1834 (1954), a detailed study of financial administration. He also edited several historical texts and contributed articles to scholarly journals.

Steel's work is characterized by its meticulous research, clear prose, and judicious interpretation of historical evidence. He was a respected figure in the historical profession and made significant contributions to the understanding of medieval and early modern England. He died in 1973, leaving behind a legacy of scholarly work that continues to be consulted by historians today.