Hamish Scott (historian)

Hamish Scott (born 1948) is a British historian specializing in 18th-century Europe, particularly the political, social, and cultural history of the Old Regime, with a focus on monarchy, the aristocracy, and international relations.

Scott was educated at the University of Oxford, receiving his D.Phil. He is Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Oxford and Emeritus Fellow of St John's College, Oxford. He previously held the Regius Professorship of Modern History at the University of St Andrews.

His work is notable for its detailed examination of the structures and functions of power in 18th-century Europe, challenging simplistic narratives of decline and revolution. He has explored the dynamics of international relations during the Enlightenment, considering the role of diplomatic culture and the pursuit of dynastic interests. Scott's scholarship often incorporates a comparative perspective, analyzing the similarities and differences between various European states.

Selected Publications:

• British Foreign Policy in the Age of Walpole (1973)
• Enlightened Absolutism: Reform and Reformers in Later Eighteenth-Century Europe (1990)
• The European Nobility in the Eighteenth Century (1995)
• The Birth of a Great Power System, 1740-1815 (2006)
• Dynastic States of Europe, 1300-1800 (2023)