Background
Wood was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in 1903. His father was George Arnold Wood, who taught history at the University of Sydney.
Wood was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in 1903. His father was George Arnold Wood, who taught history at the University of Sydney.
Balliol College.
Wood Junior. received his education at Sydney Grammar School, Sydney University, and Balliol College, Oxford. When he returned to Sydney, he privately tutored the later Nobel-laureate Patrick White. In 1935, a committee of the Victoria University College had recommended John Cawte Beaglehole as chair of their history department, but this was blocked for political reasons.
The position was offered to Wood instead.
Wood spent the rest of his academic career at Victoria University, and retired from teaching in 1969. He died at his home on 11 September 1989.