Background

Michael Maclagan was born on April 14, 1914, in London, United Kingdom. He was the son of Eric Maclagan and Helen Elizabeth Lascelles.

Education

Michael Maclagan studied at Winchester College in 1932. He also attended Christ Church, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1935 and a Master of Arts in 1939.

Career

Michael Maclagan was a lecturer at Christ Church. Then he joined the faculty at Trinity College as a fellow in 1939. However, his academic career was interrupted by the onset of World War II. During the war, he served in Britain's 16th/5th Lancers, mostly in military operations in Cairo, achieving the rank of major.

Returning to England in 1946, Maclagan resumed his position at Trinity. He served in various posts there, including as senior proctor from 1954 to 1955. Maclagan was a senior librarian from 1960 to 1970 and a trustee from 1970 to 1999 of the Oxford Union. He retired as fellow emeritus in 1981. Moreover, in 1970-1971 he was a Lord Mayor of Oxford. He also worked as a Sheriff of the City in 1964-1965, attracting notice for performing on horseback the tradition of rounding up Oxford's cattle in Port Meadow. Besides, he held the position of Chairman of the Oxford Diocesan Advisory Committee in 1961-1985 and a Master of the Scriveners' Company in 1988-1989. Michael Maclagan also served at the College of Arms in London. He started his career in 1948 as a Slains Pursuivant until 1970, then became a Portcullis Pursuivant in 1970-1980 and a Richmond Herald in 1980-1989. Heraldry had been an abiding interest from his childhood. He was a walking encyclopedia of armorial knowledge and had an allied taste for state ceremonial. Princess Royal (married to the Earl of Harewood, his mother's cousin) procured a seat for him at the 1937 Coronation. Later, he acted as a staff officer at the 1953 Coronation and the Investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1969.

As a writer, an erudite historian who was fluent in Latin and Greek, Maclagan was the editor of Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England and Richard Aungerville's Philobiblon. Furthermore, he was the author of several books, including Trinity College 1555-1955, "Clemency" Canning, The City of Constantinople, and Heraldry of the Royal Families of Europe.

Achievements

• Michael Maclagan was best known as an educator and writer. For more than forty years, he taught at Trinity College and served at the College of Arms. He also was a Lord Mayor of Oxford in 1970-1971. Additionally, for his writing, "Clemency" Canning, Maclagan received the Wheatley Medal.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Trinity College 1555-1955 1955
  • "Clemency" Canning 1962
  • The City of Constantinople 1968
  • Heraldry of the Royal Families of Europe 1981

Connections

Michael Maclagan's first wife was a cousin, Brenda Alexander. They married in 1939 and divorced in 1946. Then, in 1949, he married Jean Elizabeth Brooksbank Garnett. Maclagan had four children, a son from the first marriage, David Maclagan, and a son and two daughters from the second marriage, Ianthe Mary, Helen Margaret, and Andrew Maclagan.

Father:

Eric Robert Dalrymple Maclagan

Sir Eric Maclagan was a British museum director and art historian.

Mother:

Helen Elizabeth Lascelles

Brother:

Gerald Maclagan

ex-wife:

Brenda Alexander

Brenda Alexander was Michael Maclagan's first wife. They married in 1939 and divorced in 1946.

Wife:

Jean Elizabeth Brooksbank Garnett

Son:

David Maclagan

Daughter:

Ianthe Mary Maclagan

Daughter:

Helen Margaret Maclagan

Son:

Andrew Maclagan