author
John Frederick Maurice
1841–1912
Remembered more for his pen than his rank, this British major-general turned military history and strategy into lively public debate. His books and essays helped shape how late Victorian readers thought about war, empire, and the army.
1 Audiobook
The Great War of 189-: A Forecast
by P. H. (Philip Howard) Colomb, Archibald Forbes, Charles Lowe, F. N. (Frederic Natusch) Maude, John Frederick Maurice, David Christie Murray, Frank Scudamore
About the author
Born in London on 24 May 1841, Sir John Frederick Maurice was the eldest son of the theologian Frederick Denison Maurice. He was educated privately, then trained at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and entered the Royal Artillery in 1861. Over the course of his army career he served in several imperial campaigns and rose to the rank of major-general.
Maurice became especially well known as a military writer and editor. He wrote on war, military history, and strategy, and helped bring those subjects to a broader reading public through books, essays, and official historical work. He is often remembered as much for his influence on military thought as for his active service.
He was also connected to public life beyond the battlefield, taking part in debates about national efficiency and military preparedness in Britain. Maurice died on 12 January 1912, but his reputation has lasted through his historical writing and his role in shaping how modern war was discussed in his time.