J. W. Gough Explained

John Wiedhofft Gough (23 February 1900 - 1976)^[1] was a Welsh historian noted for his study of John Locke's political philosophy.

Life and career

Gough matriculated at Merton College, Oxford in 1918.^[2]

Gough was described as an outstanding student whilst at Oxford, achieving a first in both the classics and modern history, in 1922 and 1923, respectively.^[3] He was a Lecturer at the University of Bristol between 1923 and 1931, and during this time spent a year as Visiting Lecturer at Western Reserve University, Ohio. In 1932 he was made a Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, and in 1947 was appointed lecturer in modern history. He was awarded a DLitt in 1965.^[4]

Gough was twice married: firstly in 1926 to Margaret Christian, née Rintoul, with whom he had a son and two daughters; following Margaret's death in 1939, he remarried in 1941, to Margaret Johnston, née Maclagan.

Works

• The Mines of Mendip (1930)
• The Superlative Prodigall, a life of Thomas Bushell (1932)
• The Social Contract: A Critical Study of its Development (Oxford University Press, 1936; 2nd ed., 1957).
• John Locke's Political Philosophy: Eight Studies (Oxford University Press, 1950; 2nd ed., 1973).
• Fundamental Law in English Constitutional History (1955)

Notes and References

1. Book: Grayling . A. C. . Goulder . Naomi . Pyle . Andrew . The Continuum Encyclopedia of British Philosophy . 2006 . Continuum . 9781843711414 . 1st . 15 December 2020.
2. Book: Levens. R.G.C.. Merton College Register 1900–1964. 1964. Basil Blackwell. Oxford. 114.
3. Stuart Brown (ed.), Dictionary of Twentieth-Century British Philosophers (Bloomsbury, 2005), p. 339.
4. Brown, p. 339.