Douglas Bush
Douglas Bush was a prominent Canadian-born scholar in English literature, born on March 21, 1896, in Morrisburg, Ontario. He pursued his education at the University of Toronto, where he specialized in classics, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1920 and a master’s degree in 1921. Bush furthered his studies at Harvard University, obtaining his doctoral degree within two years. He began his academic career at Harvard in 1924, later joining the University of Minnesota, where he gained recognition and full professor status before returning to Harvard in 1936. Over his illustrious career, he authored several significant texts, notably "English Literature in the Earlier Seventeenth Century, 1600–1660," published in 1945, which has been influential in university curricula. After retiring in 1966, Bush remained involved in intellectual activities and continued to have his works published. He passed away on March 2, 1983, leaving behind a legacy in literary scholarship and a devoted family.
Subject Terms
Douglas Bush
Literary Critic and Historian
- Born: March 21, 1896
- Birthplace: Morrisburg, Ontario
- Died: March 2, 1983
- Place of death: Boston, Massachusetts
Contribution: Douglas Bush was a Canadian-born scholar and one of the most influential literary critics and historians of his time. Educated at the University of Toronto and Harvard University, Bush served as the chair of the University of Minnesota’s English Department, and later became the Gurney professor emeritus of English literature at Harvard. In all, Bush spent thirty-three years teaching at Harvard and was considered one of the world’s foremost experts on Renaissance-era English literature. Much of his scholarly work focused on modes of textual analysis and he wrote five major texts, in addition to serving as editor of numerous editions of the works of English poets John Keats and John Milton.
Early Life and Education
Douglas Bush was born March 21, 1896, in Morrisburg, Ontario. He attended the University of Toronto, where he majored in classics and earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1920. After receiving a master’s degree in 1921, Bush enrolled at Harvard University, where he completed his doctoral degree in just two years. In 1923, he went to England on an academic fellowship and remained there until the following year.
Scholarly Career
Bush returned to the United States in 1924 and became an instructor in Harvard’s English Department, where he taught for three years before the University of Minnesota, whose university press published his first book, offered him a position.
Bush enjoyed a highly successful tenure at the University of Minnesota, quickly gaining full professor status and eventually becoming chair of the school’s English department. In 1936, however, Bush left the University of Minnesota when he was invited to return to Harvard’s faculty.
In 1957, Bush was appointed to the prestigious position of Gurney professor emeritus of English literature. He remained a central figure in Harvard’s English department until his retirement. During his career, Bush authored several major texts, including English Literature in the Earlier Seventeenth Century, 1600–1660 (1945), which has remained a standard of university English courses and is one of the most influential books on the subject.
Later Life and Death
During the later years of his scholarly career, Bush expressed concerns that his intellectual faculties were weakening. Despite the reassurances of his colleagues, who were steadfast in their unanimity that Bush’s mind was as sharp as ever, Bush retired from Harvard in 1966. He spent the last years of his life in peaceful retirement, moderately active in intellectual circles; the essays he wrote during his time on Harvard’s faculty continued to be collected and published.
In late February 1983, Bush contracted pneumonia and was hospitalized. Bush died Wednesday, March 2, 1983. He was survived by his wife of over fifty-five years, Hazel Cleaver.
Bibliography
Anfang, Stuart A. “Retired Professor Bush Dies, Was Noted Literary Humanist.” TheCrimson.com. Harvard Crimson, 3 Mar. 1983. Web. 12 Aug. 2013.
Bush, Douglas. Papers of John Nash Douglas Bush, 1914–1981. Harvard University Archives, Cambridge. Print.
Le Comte, Edward. “In Memoriam: Douglas Bush Remembered.” American Scholar 53.3 (1984): 390. Print.
Rosenblatt, Roger. “The Odd Pursuit of Teaching Books.” Time 121.13 (Mar. 1983): 62–66. Print.
Wald, Matthew L. “Dr. Douglas Bush, 86, Author and Former Harvard Teacher.” The New York Times (6 Mar. 1983): 44. Print.