Oliver MacDonagh (1924-2002) was renowned as a scholar in modern British and Irish history. He became Foundation Professor and Chairman at the newly founded Flinders University in Australia. Atter a return to Ireland as Professor of Modern History at Cork, he was appointed W.K. Hancock Professor of History at the Institute of Advanced Studies, Australian National University. He wrote books on Irish emigration, Irish political history, 18th century administration and government in Victorian Britain.