author
Charles John Ffoulkes
1868–1947
A leading early 20th-century expert on arms and armour, he helped shape how Britain preserved and interpreted military history. His work ranged from medieval weaponry to the founding years of the Imperial War Museum.
2 Audiobooks
The armourer and his craft from the XIth to the XVIth century
by Charles John Ffoulkes
Armour & Weapons
by Charles John Ffoulkes
About the author
Charles John ffoulkes was a British historian and museum curator best known for his work on arms and armour. He wrote extensively on medieval weapons and defensive equipment, building a reputation as a careful specialist in the field.
In 1913, he became Curator of the Royal Armouries at the Tower of London, a role he took up after being chosen by his predecessor, Harold Arthur Lee-Dillon. During the First World War, he went on to play an important part in preserving the history of the conflict, becoming the first Curator and Secretary of the Imperial War Museum.
His career linked scholarly research with public history: he studied historic arms in depth, but he also helped create institutions that made that history accessible to a wider audience. That mix of expertise and museum leadership is a big part of why he is still remembered today.