Professor W David McIntyre 1932-2022

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Professor David McIntyre, the leading historian and analyst of the modern Commonwealth.  

David McIntyre’s path to academia began as an undergraduate at Peterhouse, Cambridge; he then completed his PhD at SOAS, University of London. From 1959 to 1966 he taught at the University of Nottingham, and then moved to the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, as professor of history. He remained at University of Canterbury, Christchurch for the rest of his academic career. He became Professor Emeritus in 1997.

This eclectic academic background fostered his remarkable ability to appreciate multiple perspectives, which shone through his prolific output. In 1966 he published Colonies into Commonwealth; this was followed by The Commonwealth of Nations: Origins and Impact, 1869-1971 (1977), The Significance of the Commonwealth, 1965-90 (1991), A Guide to the Contemporary Commonwealth (2001), and The Britannic Vision: Historians and the Making of the British Commonwealth of Nations, 1907-48 (2009). He was an adviser to the Commonwealth Secretariat and served as a member of ‘the Patterson committee’ which reported in 2007, setting out clear criteria for Commonwealth membership. He was also a regular and highly valued contributor to the Round Table's journal; his commentary on the 2022 Kigali summit was published in the RT shortly before his death in early September.

We have lost much more than an energetic and incisive scholar. David McIntyre and Derek Ingram were the two great chroniclers of the modern Commonwealth, and their guidance and input in the ICWS’ oral history project on the modern Commonwealth was invaluable. Derek was seven years David's senior, but they were of a similar vintage - both witnessed and analysed the New Commonwealth’s gathering confidence and influence. Both men were extraordinarily kind and supportive mentors to scholars and students interested in Commonwealth affairs. With Derek's passing in 2018 and now David's death, we have lost two vital links to the Commonwealth's past. Like Derek, David will be very sadly missed by his many friends and colleagues.

Dr Sue Onslow and Professor Philip Murphy