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George Peabody Gooch, OM, CH

1873-1968. Historian; Honorary Fellow.  MP for Bath.

George Peabody Gooch was a journalist, historian and Liberal Party politician. A follower of Lord Acton, he never held an academic position, but knew the work of historians of continental Europe.

Born in London, Gooch was educated at Eton College, King's College London and Trinity. He was elected at the 1906 general election as MP for Bath, but lost the seat at the January 1910 general election. He stood again in Bath at the December 1910 general election, but did not regain the seat, and was unsuccessful again when he stood at a by-election in Reading in November 1913.

He edited Contemporary Review from 1911 until 1960.  After World War I he was an influential historian of Europe of the period, and critical of British policy. He was active in the Union of Democratic Control.

From the mid-1920s and for the next decade he was involved in the publication of the official British diplomatic history, with Harold Temperley.  The choice of these two men was intended to signal that the history was independent of the Government.

Gooch has been noted as a significant revisionist historian of Europe of the early twentieth century, and in particular of the causes of World War I.  He became a Companion of Honour in 1939, and a member of the Order of Merit in 1963. He died in London.