László Péter (1929-2008)

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death on 6 June of László Péter, Emeritus Professor of Hungarian History at SSEES and Fellow of UCL. László came to Britain following the tragic events of 1956 in his native Hungary, achieved his DPhil at Oxford in 1966, joined SSEES academic staff in 1963 and became one of the great scholars of the School since its foundation. He was admired and honoured in Hungary as he was in Britain and beyond. Hungarian constitutional history was at the centre of his scholarship; he matched clarity of focus and depth of analysis with breadth of knowledge and interest, and his never-flagging intellectual curiosity was combined with a capacity to define and redefine conceptualisations in his subject. László was an active and inspiring presence in the School and far beyond right up to the very end of his life. As well as being a great scholar and brilliant teacher, László was a lovely person who will be greatly missed by his many students, colleagues and friends.

Robin Aizlewood
Rebecca Haynes

Obituary in The Times

Obituary in the Independent

Obituary in Holmi

Notice in Figyelő

László as a scout, c.1942. A friend writes: 'The insignia on the cap are of the Holy Crown and, beneath it, a representation of the Chieftain Arpad, after whom the Gimnazium that László attended was named. The three flashes on the cap indicate that he was then in his third year of secondary education, ie 1941-2. The cross surmounting the Holy Crown was in copper and, with the cap removed and flattened, could by way of a bludgeon be used in inter-school fights to serious effect.'

This page last modified Thursday 14 August 2008.