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August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
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People File • Historian

Margaret MacMillan

Margaret MacMillan is a Canadian historian and author known for her work on international history, especially the 19th and 20th centuries.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Margaret MacMillan is a Canadian historian and author known for her work on international history, especially the Paris Peace Conference. She is professor emerita at the University of Toronto and the University of Oxford.

What it is

Margaret MacMillan is a historian specializing in international history of the 19th and 20th centuries. Her work focuses on diplomacy, imperial history, and the forces that shaped modern world affairs. She is known for making complex historical events accessible to general readers.

Key details

Her best-known book, *Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World*, won the Samuel Johnson Prize and the Governor General’s Literary Award for English-language non-fiction. Other notable works include *The War That Ended Peace*, *Nixon in China*, and *War: How Conflict Shaped Us*. She has served as Provost of Trinity College, Toronto, and Warden of St Antony’s College, Oxford.

Canada connection

MacMillan was born in Toronto and educated at the University of Toronto and Oxford. She is one of Canada’s most prominent historians, with an international readership. Her Governor General’s Literary Award highlights her Canadian recognition.

In short

  • Canadian historian specializing in 19th and 20th century international history.
  • Author of *Paris 1919*, winner of Samuel Johnson Prize and Governor General’s Award.
  • Professor emerita at University of Toronto and University of Oxford.
  • Known for accessible, authoritative histories of diplomacy and conflict.
Canadian angle

Margaret MacMillan was born in Toronto and has received major Canadian recognition, including the Governor General’s Literary Award for English-language non-fiction for *Paris 1919*. She is one of Canada’s best-known historians writing for an international audience.

Quick questions

Who is Margaret MacMillan?
Margaret MacMillan is a Canadian historian and author specializing in international history, especially the 19th and 20th centuries.
What books has Margaret MacMillan written?
Her books include *Women of the Raj*, *Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World*, *Nixon in China: The Week That Changed the World*, *The Uses and Abuses of History*, *History's People*, *The War That Ended Peace*, and *War: How Conflict Shaped Us*.
What is Margaret MacMillan known for?
She is known for authoritative, accessible histories of diplomacy and international relations, especially her study of the 1919 Paris Peace Conference.

Sources

  1. The Canadian Encyclopedia — https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/margaret-macmillan
    Supports: Birthplace, nationality, academic roles, and the prominence of *Paris 1919*.
  2. Carnegie Corporation of New York — https://www.carnegie.org/about/trustees/margaret-macmillan/
    Supports: Specialization, current emeritus positions, and publication list.
  3. University of Toronto Department of History — https://www.history.utoronto.ca/people/directories/all-faculty/margaret-macmillan
    Supports: Academic appointments and books authored.
  4. Governor General of Canada — https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-15311
    Supports: Canadian literary recognition and prominence of *Paris 1919*.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_MacMillan
    Supports: Title variants of *Paris 1919*/*Peacemakers* and award details.