Thomas Dixon

Professor Thomas Dixon is an Honorary Professor of History at Queen Mary University of London's School of History, specializing in the history of emotions, Victorian intellectual history, and the intersections of science, religion, and philosophy. He joined Queen Mary in 2007 and has been a core member of the Queen Mary Centre for the History of the Emotions since 2008, co-editing the History of Emotions Blog. Dixon holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge (1996–2000) and completed a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship (2000–2003). He previously lectured in History at Lancaster University.

His research focuses on the historical and cultural analysis of emotions, including anger, weeping, and altruism, alongside explorations of science-religion relationships and Victorian moral thought. Key projects include a Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award (2015–2022) on 'Emotional Health in History, Philosophy, and Experience.' His publications span books like Weeping Britannia: Portrait of a Nation in Tears and Science and Religion: A Very Short Introduction, along with numerous journal articles.

Public engagement is central to his work, including BBC Radio series such as Five Hundred Years of Friendship and A Short History of Solitude, and award-winning podcasts like The Sound of Anger (2020 Gold British Podcast Awards). He co-developed the 'Developing Emotions' program for primary schools, fostering emotional literacy through historical case studies.

Dixon serves as Editor of Journal of Victorian Culture and co-edits the Oxford University Press 'Emotions in History' series. His academic leadership includes supervising over 30 PhD students on topics ranging from Victorian moral philosophy to emotional education.