Esmond de Beer

1975

Private collection

Unpublished

Esmond de Beer was born in Dunedin on 15 September 1895 to Isidore Samuel de Beer (1860-1934) and Emily (1864-1930), née Hallenstein. Schooled at Selwyn College, and Middle Hill School, London, de Beer went up to New College, Oxford, in the autumn of 1914, as a commoner. After demobilization, as part of the 2nd Battalion 35th Sikhs, he went to University College, London, and the newly founded Institute of Historical Research. An MA thesis on Sir Thomas Osbourne, the Earl of Danby’s ministry of 1675-1678, led to de Beer’s editing the first full edition of John Evelyn’s Diary, published by Clarendon Press, Oxford, in 1955. This photograph was taken by Gary Blackman at de Beer’s house at 31 Brompton Square, London.