Role Historian Name Thomas Pakenham | Spouse(s) Valerie Susan Scott | |
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Born 14 August 1933 (age 91) ( 1933-08-14 ) Tenure 3 August 2001 – present Parents Elizabeth Pakenham, Countess of Longford, Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford Siblings Antonia Fraser, Rachel Billington, Judith Kazantzis Nephews Nathaniel Kevin Billington, Damian Fraser, Orlando Fraser, Benjamin Fraser, Caspar Leo Billington Nieces Flora Fraser, Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni, Rebecca Fitzgerald, Chloe Margaret Billington, Catherine Rose Billington Books The Scramble for Africa, Meetings with remarkab, Remarkable Trees of the World, The Company of Trees, Year of Liberty the Great Iris Similar People Frank Pakenham - 7th Earl o, Elizabeth Pakenham - Countess, Rachel Billington, Antonia Fraser, Judith Kazantzis |
The scramble for africa by thomas pakenham history book review
Thomas Francis Dermot Pakenham, 8th Earl of Longford (born 14 August 1933), known simply as Thomas Pakenham, is an Anglo-Irish historian and arborist who has written several prize-winning books on the diverse subjects of African history, Victorian and post-Victorian British history, and trees.
Contents
- The scramble for africa by thomas pakenham history book review
- Interview with thomas pakenham at killua castle clonmellon co westmeath 2016
- Background
- Family
- Biography
- References

Interview with thomas pakenham at killua castle clonmellon co westmeath 2016
Background
He is the son of The 7th Earl of Longford, a Labour minister, and Elizabeth Longford. He has seven siblings, among them Lady Antonia Fraser, a writer who was married to playwright Harold Pinter; Lady Rachel Billington, also a writer and married to director Kevin Billington; Lady Judith Kazantzis, a poet; and The Hon. Kevin Pakenham, who currently works in the City of London. He is also the cousin of former Labour deputy leader, Harriet Harman.
Thomas Pakenham, Lord Longford, does not use his title and did not use his courtesy title before succeeding his father. However, he has not disclaimed his British titles under the Peerage Act 1963, and the Irish peerages cannot be disclaimed as they are not covered by the Act. Following the House of Lords Act 1999 he is not entitled, as a hereditary peer, to sit in the House of Lords. His father was created a life peer in addition to his hereditary titles in order to be able to retain his seat in the upper house.
Family
He married Valerie Susan McNair Scott in 1964 and they have four children:
Biography
After graduating from Belvedere College and Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1955, Thomas Pakenham travelled to Ethiopia, a trip which is described in his first book The Mountains of Rasselas. On returning to Britain, he worked on the editorial staff of the Times Educational Supplement and later for The Sunday Telegraph and The Observer. He divides his time between London and County Westmeath, Ireland, where he is the chairman of the Irish Tree Society and honorary custodian of Tullynally Castle.