Hertford historian becomes President of the Historical Association

14 May 2026

We’re delighted to congratulate Hertford alumnus James Daybell, Professor of History and Associate Dean of the University of Plymouth, as he becomes the new President of the Historical Association.

James has a long career as an historian of the early modern period and his research has explored multiple topics and themes, from women’s letter-writing and the family to the history of material culture. He has extensive experience in public history and forms of outreach and has worked closely with museums, archives and heritage organisations in Britain and further afield.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Historical Association, James speaks warmly about his time at Hertford. ‘It was there that I was lucky enough to be tutored by three excellent college tutors: Toby Barnard, Christopher Tyerman and Geoffrey Ellis. So I got a really good grounding in history there. The courses that I took as an undergraduate really set me up for what I then went on to do for the rest of my career.’

Watch the full interview on the Historical Association website.