Edward Impey | |
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![]() Impey addressing a conference in 2010 | |
Born | Edward Alexander Impey 28 May 1962 |
Nationality | British |
Occupation | Museum director |
Known for | Director General of the Royal Armouries (2013—2022) |
Title | Master of the Armouries |
Spouse | Karen Lundgren (m. 2008) |
Children | Two |
Awards | Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London Fellow of the Royal Historical Society |
Academic background | |
Education | Dragon School Bedales School |
Alma mater | Oriel College, Oxford |
Thesis | The origins and development of non-conventual monastic dependencies in England and Normandy 1000–1350 (1991) |
Academic work | |
Discipline | History and archaeology |
Edward Alexander Impey, FSA , FRHistS (born 28 May 1962) is a British historian,archaeologist,and museum curator. Between October 2013 and January 2022 he was Master of the Armouries and Director General of the Royal Armouries. [1] [2]
Impey was born on 28 May 1962 to Oliver Impey and Jane Mellanby. [2] His father was a zoologist by training who became specialist in Japanese art,and his mother was a neuroscientist. [3] His grandfather Kenneth Mellanby was a biochemist. He grew up in the City of Oxford where his father was a curator at the Ashmolean Museum. [3] He was educated at the Dragon School,a preparatory school in Oxford,and at Bedales School,a private school near Petersfield,Hampshire. [2]
Impey has degrees in history and archaeology. [4] He studied at Oriel College,Oxford,graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree. [2] At Oxford,the BA is promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Oxon) degree a number of years after graduating,and an MPhil is a two-year taught master's degree. He remained at the University of Oxford to undertake postgraduate research,and completed his Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree in 1991. [2] His doctoral thesis was titled The origins and development of non-conventual monastic dependencies in England and Normandy 1000–1350. [5]
Impey worked as a curator at Historic Royal Palaces and served as Director of Heritage Protection and Planning at English Heritage. [1] On 30 July 2013,he was announced as the next Master of the Armouries and Director General of the Royal Armouries. [1] In 2022,however,he retired from this job and from work. He took up the appointments in October 2013 in succession to Lieutenant-General Jonathon Riley. [1] [4] Along with John Goodall,Impey is a patron of the Castle Studies Trust,a UK registered charity. [6]
In 2008,Impey married Karen Lundgren. [2] Together,they have two daughters. [1] [2]
On 2 May 1996,Impey was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA). [7] In 2011,he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS). [2]