John Ehrman

John Patrick William Ehrman was a British historian specializing in late-17th and 18th-century British history. Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, he was elected to a fellowship in 1947 and later contributed to the official history of Britain in the Second World War with two volumes. His scholarly work extended to naval history, notably with his volume on the Royal Navy during the war of William III. However, his most enduring contribution was his multi-volume biography of William Pitt the Younger, a project that spanned four decades of meticulous research and writing.

Ehrman's distinguished career included numerous academic and institutional roles. He was elected a fellow of the British Academy in 1970 and served as a trustee of the National Portrait Gallery from 1971 to 1985. His expertise also led to appointments on the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts and as head of the National Manuscripts Conservation Trust. A dedicated historian, Ehrman twice held the position of vice-president of the Navy Records Society, reflecting his lifelong commitment to preserving and interpreting Britain's historical legacy.