Postan, Michael Moïssey (1899–1981)

Abstract

M.M. Postan, who was born in Tighina, Bessarabia, in 1899 and who died in Cambridge in 1981, was one of most distinguished economic historians of the 20th century. After briefly studying natural sciences and sociology at the University of St Petersburg he moved on to study law and economics at the University of Odessa, and then at the University of Kiev. He came to England in 1920 and between 1921 and 1926 took his first degree, his MA, and his Ph.D. at the London School of Economics. Between 1927 and 1937 he held lectureships, successively, at University College, London, at the London School of Economics, and at Cambridge University. In 1938 he was appointed to succeed Sir John Clapham in the chair of economic history at Cambridge, a position he retained until his retirement.