8:41am Tuesday 16th March 2010
By Haydn Lewis
TRIBUTES have been paid to a former University of York academic who has died at the age of 61.
Professor Jim McMillan was a lecturer in the department of history from 1973 to 1992.
He was born in Paisley, near Glasgow, and after school went on to study at the University of Glasgow. In 1969 he emerged as the top Modern History graduate in his year, and went on to study at Balliol College, Oxford, where he obtained a doctorate.
Prof McMillan began his academic career at York and while at the university he produced two books: Dreyfus To De Gaulle: Politics And Society in France 1998-1969; and Napoleon III.
He taught courses in history and the sociology of religion as well as on literary theory and history. In 1987-8 he became an exchange professor at California State University.
While at York, Prof McMillan married Donatella Fischer and the pair were keen theatre and concert-goers.
He was also an ardent Celtic fan and played in a local league at York as part of the staff football team.
In 1992, he returned to Scotland as Professor of European History at the University of Strathclyde and in 1999 he was appointed to the Richard Pares chair at the University of Edinburgh where he continued to teach before he lost a battle against cancer.
He is survived by his wife, who is a lecturer in Italian at the University of Glasgow.
A spokesman for the University of York said staff were greatly saddened by the death of Prof McMillan. Professor Bill Shiels, Head of the Department of History as well as a friend and former colleague, said: “James was a distinguished historian, primarily of modern France, but also a pioneer in the field of women’s history with a great interest in the relationship between history and literature.
“He was a very popular, engaging and effective teacher held in the highest regard by students and staff alike.
“James will be remembered for his humour, personal warmth, intellectual zest and infectious interest in the new.”
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/trade_directory/