Education
George Cawkwell was educated at King"s College, Auckland in New Zealand and became head boy there. He attended the University of Auckland from 1938, gaining Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees.
George Cawkwell was educated at King"s College, Auckland in New Zealand and became head boy there. He attended the University of Auckland from 1938, gaining Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees.
He joined the army in 1942 during World World War II and fought with the Fijian Infantry in the Solomons in 1944. Cawkwell was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, studying at Christ Church. He played in the position of lock for the Scotland national rugby union team, gaining his cap in 1947.
Foreign most of his life, Cawkwell was a Fellow and Praelector in Ancient History of University College, Oxford.
He was a Fellow from 1949 to 1987 and then became an Emeritus Fellow. He authored a number of books on ancient history.
His students included the classical scholars Ernst Badian and Raphael Sealey. Cawkwell was the first "Procurator" of University College, fund-raising for the 750th anniversary of the college in 1999.
The George Cawkwell Fellowship in Ancient History has been established at the college.
A boat in the University College Boat Club is also named after him. His portrait was painted by the artist Daphne Todd. George Cawkwell married Pat Clarke in 1945.
