Joseph Henry Longford
Encyclopedia
Joseph Henry Longford was a British consular official in the British Japan Consular Service
from 24 February 1869 until 15 August 1902. He was Consul in Formosa
(1895-7) after the First Sino-Japanese War
and at Nagasaki (1897–1902).
After retiring from the service he became the first Professor of Japanese at King's College London
until 1916, and then an emeritus professor of the University of London
. He was awarded a D.Litt. by his alma mater, Queen's University of Belfast
in 1919.
Although not in the front rank of British Japanologists in the 19th century occupied by Ernest Satow, Basil Hall Chamberlain
, William George Aston
and arguably Frederick Victor Dickins
, he did make a notable contribution in the field of early Japanese studies.
and as a member of the Japan Society of London was a strong supporter of maintaining good Anglo-Japanese relations
. He realised that Britain held Hong Kong
and Singapore
only as long as the Japanese allowed her to do so, and urged the importance of studying Japan on British readers.
British Japan Consular Service
Britain had a functioning consular service in Japan from 1859 after the signing of the 1858 Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Amity and Commerce between James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin and the Tokugawa Shogunate until 1941 when war was declared by Britain on Japan as the ally of the United States after the...
from 24 February 1869 until 15 August 1902. He was Consul in Formosa
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
(1895-7) after the First Sino-Japanese War
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
and at Nagasaki (1897–1902).
After retiring from the service he became the first Professor of Japanese at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
until 1916, and then an emeritus professor of the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. He was awarded a D.Litt. by his alma mater, Queen's University of Belfast
Queen's University of Belfast
Queen's University Belfast is a public research university in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The university's official title, per its charter, is the Queen's University of Belfast. It is often referred to simply as Queen's, or by the abbreviation QUB...
in 1919.
Although not in the front rank of British Japanologists in the 19th century occupied by Ernest Satow, Basil Hall Chamberlain
Basil Hall Chamberlain
Basil Hall Chamberlain was a professor of Tokyo Imperial University and one of the foremost British Japanologists active in Japan during the late 19th century. He also wrote some of the earliest translations of haiku into English...
, William George Aston
William George Aston
William George Aston was a British diplomat, author and scholar-expert in the language and history of Japan and Korea.-Early life:...
and arguably Frederick Victor Dickins
Frederick Victor Dickins
Frederick Victor Dickins was a British surgeon, barrister, orientalist and university administrator. He is now remembered as a translator of Japanese literature.-Life:...
, he did make a notable contribution in the field of early Japanese studies.
Japanophile
Longford laboured long and hard to produce several readable and compendious books on JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and as a member of the Japan Society of London was a strong supporter of maintaining good Anglo-Japanese relations
Anglo-Japanese relations
The history of the relationship between Britain and Japan began in 1600 with the arrival of William Adams on the shores of Kyūshū at Usuki in Ōita Prefecture...
. He realised that Britain held Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
only as long as the Japanese allowed her to do so, and urged the importance of studying Japan on British readers.
Books
- 1877 -- The Penal Code of Japan
- 1907 -- Japan (Living Races of Mankind)
- 1910 -- 'The Regeneration of Japan', in Cambridge Modern HistoryCambridge Modern HistoryThe Cambridge Modern History is a comprehensive modern history of the world, beginning with the 15th century age of Discovery, published by the Cambridge University Press in the United Kingdom and also in the United States....
, vol. 12 (1910) - 1910 -- The Story of Old Japan
- 1911 -- The Story of Korea
- 1911 -- Japan of the Japanese. New York: C. Scribner's sons. OCLC 2971290
- 1913 -- The Evolution of New Japan
- 1915 -- Japan (Spirit of the Allied Nations)
- 1920 -- Japan (Harmsworth Encyclopedia)
- 1923 -- Japan (Nations of Today)
See also
- Ernest Mason SatowErnest Mason SatowSir Ernest Mason Satow PC, GCMG, , known in Japan as "" , known in China as "薩道義" or "萨道义", was a British scholar, diplomat and Japanologist....
- John Harington GubbinsJohn Harington Gubbins-Education:Gubbins attended Harrow School and would have gone on to Cambridge University, had family finances allowed.-Career:Gubbins was appointed a student interpreter in the British Japan Consular Service in 1871; English Secretary to the Conference at Tokyo for the Revision of the Treaties,...
- Thomas Blake GloverThomas Blake GloverThomas Blake Glover, Order of the Rising Sun was a Scottish merchant in Bakumatsu and Meiji period Japan.-Early life :...
- a friend of Longford - William George AstonWilliam George AstonWilliam George Aston was a British diplomat, author and scholar-expert in the language and history of Japan and Korea.-Early life:...
- Anglo-Japanese relationsAnglo-Japanese relationsThe history of the relationship between Britain and Japan began in 1600 with the arrival of William Adams on the shores of Kyūshū at Usuki in Ōita Prefecture...