Sidney Painter | |
|---|---|
 Portrait byRobert Mottar, 1954 | |
| Born | (1902-09-23)September 23, 1902 New York City,New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 12, 1960(1960-01-12) (aged 57) Baltimore,Maryland, U.S. |
| Occupation | Historian |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Yale University (BA,PhD) |
| Period | 20th century |
| Genre | Medieval History |
Sidney Painter (September 23, 1902 – January 12, 1960) was an Americanmedievalist and historian. He was a fellow of theMediaeval Academy and professor of history and chairman of the department of history atJohns Hopkins University.
Painter was born inNew York City; after theTaft School he attendedYale University (AB 1925; PhD 1930).[1] He was an influential member of American academia in the 1950s and served on many boards and committees. He was treasurer and secretary of theAmerican Council of Learned Societies and was a member of the council of theMediaeval Academy. He was made a fellow in 1953.[2] That same year, he was elected to theAmerican Philosophical Society.[3] He was elected to theAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1958.[4]
He wrote many influential books. His doctoral thesis was later published as "William Marshal: Knight-Errant, Baron, and Regent of England", and was supervised by Professor Sydney K. Mitchell atYale University.[5] He was an expert in medieval institutions but also believed in relating history from personal perspectives. He argued that the reign ofKing John cannot be understood without an intimate knowledge of the barons and their families and the division of family lands at the time.[2]
He died in Baltimore at the age of 57.[2]
