Sir Ernest Scott

Born in Northampton, England, Ernest Scott (21 June 1867 – 6 December 1939) built his career first in journalism and then in academic history. He moved to Australia in 1892 and later became one of the country’s best-known historians.

Scott is especially associated with the University of Melbourne, where he served as professor of history from 1913 until 1936. His historical writing often focused on exploration and the colonial period, and works such as Terre Napoléon and Laperouse helped establish his reputation as a careful researcher with a gift for telling a strong story.

He was knighted in 1939, shortly before his death. Today he is remembered as an important early interpreter of Australian history, a writer who brought archival research to a broad audience and helped define the field in Australia.