Rohan McWilliam

Professor Rohan McWilliam is a historian specializing in Modern British and United States history, holding the position of Professor of Modern British History and Course Leader for ARU's BA (Hons) History at Anglia Ruskin University. His affiliations include the Labour History Research Unit, which he directs, and editorial roles at journals like Journal of Victorian Culture and London Journal. He earned his DPhil from the University of Sussex in 1990.

His research focuses on the West End of London’s cultural and social history, Victorian studies, labour movements, and popular culture. Notable projects include a multi-volume history of London’s West End and studies on Victorian publisher Edward Lloyd. McWilliam advocates interdisciplinary approaches, blending history with literature, film, and social sciences. Recent publications explore Victorian populism, urban development, and political biography.

His teaching spans modules on 19th-century Britain, American history, and urban studies. Advising postgraduates in post-1800 British history, he has supervised successful PhDs on topics like Victorian journalism and cultural history. McWilliam’s work bridges academia and public engagement through media appearances, documentaries, and public lectures on Victorian culture and London’s history.

He leads initiatives such as the Labour History Research Unit, organizing conferences and publications on left-wing politics. His editorial contributions include book series like Becoming Modern and New Directions in Social and Cultural History, reflecting his commitment to advancing scholarly discourse in historical studies.