Obituary: Peter Mackridge

The College is sad to announce that Professor Peter Mackridge, an Emeritus Fellow of St Cross, has passed away at the age of 76.  

Peter was Emeritus Professor of Modern Greek, for many years Dean of Degrees at St Cross and a long time supporter of the College.

Peter joined Oxford as a Lecturer in Modern Greek in 1981. His research covered various aspects of Greek language, literature, and cultural history since AD 1100, though he specialised in the period since 1750, including the history of the language, language ideologies, and the history of Greek cultural nationalism. He wrote many books and articles – including ‘Language and National identity in Greece’ - and was a respected editor.

Peter was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Athens in 2008 and an honorary professorship by the University of the Peloponnese in 2017. In March 2022 he was made an honorary Greek citizen in gratitude for 50 years of service to Greek culture.   

"For 50 years, I have considered Greece my second home,” Peter said then, and St Cross members will recall that devotion to Greek culture – not least the evenings of impromptu singing and dancing around the College’s piano. 

Peter’s death is a big loss to St Cross College, and our condolences go out to his wife, Jackie, and to all his family and friends.