Marcus Niebuhr Tod

Marcus Niebuhr Tod,OBE,FBA(1878–1974) was a British historian andepigraphist.He was a fellow ofOriel College, Oxford,from 1903 to 1947, andReaderin Greek Epigraphy at theUniversity of Oxfordfrom 1927 to 1947.

Early life, education and the British School at Athens

Born inHighgateon 24 November 1878, Tod's father was a Scottishteamerchant; his mother was the daughter of the Prussian courtierMarcus von Niebuhr,and the granddaughter of the German-Danish historianBarthold Georg Niebuhr.Tod was educated atSt John's College, Oxford,as ascholar,taking a first-classBAinclassicsin 1901.

After graduating, Tod spent four years as a senior student at theBritish School at Athens,supported by aCraven scholarshipfrom theUniversity of Oxfordand a further scholarship from his old college.In 1902, he was appointed assistant director and librarian of the School and accompanied the directorRobert Carr Bosanquetonexcavationsfrom 1903.

Academic career and research

Tod was elected to afellowshipatOriel College, Oxford,in 1903 and took up teaching when his studentships ended in 1905. From 1907, helecturedonGreek epigraphyin the university and was promoted to areadershiptwenty years later.During theFirst World War,he worked for theMinistry of Labourand then for most of the period between 1915 and early 1919 inSalonikaas an interpreter and officer in theIntelligence Corps(being appointed an Officer of theOrder of the British Empirefor his service).Tod returned to teaching (which he enjoyed) and between 1934 and 1945 he was vice-provostat Oriel College.

While at the British School in Athens, Tod became interested inSpartanepigraphy, and also carried out investigations inLaconia.These led to several articles on the topics and he worked withAlan Waceto produce a catalogue of theSpartan Museumin 1906. In 1912, he won theConington Prizeat Oxford for his essay "Greek International Arbitration" which was published in 1913. He wrote a chapter for the fifth volume ofTheCambridge Ancient History(1927) and three of his lectures delivered atUniversity College Londonwere published asSidelights on Greek History(1933). In 1933 and 1948, he published a two-volume work,Greek Historical Inscriptions.

Tod retired from his fellowship and readership at Oxford in 1947, but was elected to honorary fellowships at St John's and Oriel.He was also an honorary member of staff at theUniversity of Birmingham.He receivedhonorary doctoratesfromTrinity College Dublin,theUniversity of Edinburgh,the University of Birmingham and the University of Oxford. He was elected aFellow of the British Academyin 1929.He died on 21 February 1974.