Henry Carrington Lancaster

Henry Carrington Lancaster (November 10, 1882 - January 29, 1954) was a prominent American scholar—the world's foremost expert on French dramatic literature in the 16th through 18th centuries.

Lancaster is noted for his unprecedented achievement of being awarded the Légion d'Honneur, given by France to the one person each year who has made the most exceptional contribution to its country (similar to, in the U.S., the American Medal of Freedom). This was unprecedented because it had never been given to a non-citizen. Being so well respected and appreciated by France, some years later, they bestowed another unprecedented honor in choosing him to be an officer ("Chevalier") of the Légion d'Honneur. He was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1938 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1939. For most of Lancaster's academic life, he was chair of the Romance Languages Department and professor of French literature at Johns Hopkins University. "A meticulous scholar and a mine of factual information," he authored over ten books on French dramatic literature. Johns Hopkins Magazine, June 2008 issue, chose two professors who epitomized the most excellent, distinguished and well-loved, throughout the history of Johns Hopkins: one in recent times, and one past. Lancaster was selected for a feature article and full-page photograph. Carrington Lancaster's papers are held at Johns Hopkins. Provided by Wikipedia