Martin Gilbert
Martin Gilbert was born in London on the 25th of October 1936. His family name was originally Goldberg before his father Peter changed it to Gilbert. All four grandparents were Jewish and had been born in the Pale of Settlement within the Russian Empire. Nine months after the Second World War began, young Martin left England for safety. He traveled across the Atlantic Ocean from Liverpool to Quebec as part of a British effort to protect children. Vivid memories of that transatlantic crossing sparked his curiosity about the war years later.
Randolph Churchill approached Martin Gilbert in 1962 to assist with work on a biography of his father Sir Winston Churchill. That same year Gilbert became a Fellow of Merton College Oxford alongside academics like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Randolph died in 1968 leaving six main volumes unfinished. Gilbert took over the task and spent the next twenty years completing the project. The final biography runs to 28 volumes containing over 30,000 pages. Michael Foot reviewed a volume in the New Statesman in 1971 praising Gilbert's meticulous scholarship. He wrote that whoever made the decision to make Martin Gilbert Churchill's biographer deserved a vote of thanks from the nation.
By the 1980s Gilbert turned his academic attention toward the Refusenik movement in the Soviet Union. He authored Jews of Hope: The Plight of Soviet Jewry Today in 1984 followed by Shcharansky: Hero of Our Time in 1986. Gilbert presented on behalf of the Soviet Jewry Movement in various contexts ranging from large forums like formal representation before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. He also spoke at smaller forums such as educational slideshows for the general public on behalf of the Soviet Jewry Information Centre. This activism marked a significant shift in his career focus during the decade.
In 1990 Gilbert was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
He received a knighthood in 1995 for services to British history and international relations. The University of Tübingen awarded him the Dr. Leopold Lucas Prize in 2003. In 2012 he won the Dan David Prize for his contribution to History and Biography. The Sir Martin Gilbert Library at Highgate School opened on the 6th of May 2014 by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Brown stated that Gilbert helped many leaders including Lady Thatcher John Major and Tony Blair while also helping him personally with insights into history.
The State Protection Authority of Hungary attempted to recruit Martin Gilbert as an
agent in the early 1960s. He initially responded warmly agreeing to go on a Hungarian government-funded trip to Budapest in September 1961. The Hungarians intercepted letters sent back home during the trip and deduced that Gilbert lied about being a Communist. When invited to a further meeting in Paris Gilbert did not show up. His intended handler eventually defected to the West causing the Hungarians to give up. Hungarian historian Krisztián Ungváry noted in 2015 that Gilbert must have realized what was going on and may have been used by British intelligence services to plant a double agent.
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Common questions
When was Martin Gilbert born and where?
Martin Gilbert was born in London on the 25th of October 1936. His family name was originally Goldberg before his father Peter changed it to Gilbert.
Why did young Martin leave England during the Second World War?
Nine months after the Second World War began, young Martin left England for safety. He traveled across the Atlantic Ocean from Liverpool to Quebec as part of a British effort to protect children.
How many volumes does the final biography of Sir Winston Churchill by Martin Gilbert contain?
The final biography runs to 28 volumes containing over 30,000 pages. Randolph Churchill approached Martin Gilbert in 1962 to assist with work on a biography of his father Sir Winston Churchill.
What awards did Martin Gilbert receive for his contributions to history?
He received a knighthood in 1995 for services to British history and international relations. The University of Tübingen awarded him the Dr. Leopold Lucas Prize in 2003 and he won the Dan David Prize in 2012.
Did Hungarian authorities attempt to recruit Martin Gilbert as an agent?
The State Protection Authority of Hungary attempted to recruit Martin Gilbert as an agent in the early 1960s. He initially responded warmly agreeing to go on a Hungarian government-funded trip to Budapest in September 1961.