Reflections on the Origins and Destiny of Imperial Britain

John Adam Cramb (1862–1913) was a Scottish historian and novelist, best known for his fervent patriotism and support of compulsory national service. After graduating from the University of Glasgow in 1885, he served as Lecturer in Modern History at Queen Margaret College, Glasgow, between 1885–1890 and was appointed Professor of Modern History at Queen's College, London, in 1893. This volume, first published in 1900, contains Cramb's assessment of the future of the British Empire. A fervent patriot who was writing in response to the Second Boer War in South Africa, Cramb uses historical examples of British wars to justify the Second Boer War, arguing that the mission of the British Empire was to spread democratic ideals. Cramb warns of the threat of foreign powers to the Empire and recommends compulsory military training to combat this threat. This volume provides a valuable example of Edwardian imperialist and nationalist thought.