William Whyte appointed General Editor of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
Professor Sir David Cannadine will be stepping down as General Editor of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (ODNB) on 31 July 2026, after 12 years in the role. He will be succeeded by Professor William Whyte, who will take up the post from 1 August 2026.
During his time as editor, as well as writing the entries on Margaret Thatcher, Prince Philip, and Queen Elizabeth II, David has overseen the continued updating and expansion of the Dictionary, with the inclusion of some 4,000 new entries and 1,000 new images, corrections or amendments to around 12,000 entries, and the move from thrice-yearly to monthly publication. He has also led the Dictionary in collaborations with other research projects and national institutions, and introduced an academic advisory board alongside the Dictionary’s extensive network of associate editors and advisers.
Sir David Cannadine
“It has been an extraordinary privilege and pleasure to have served for more than a decade as the General Editor of the ODNB. The support provided by David Clark and Jo Payne of Oxford University Press has been indispensable, unwavering, and outstanding; the three research editors, Alex May, Mark Curthoys, and Sarah Moorhouse have been exceptionally able, wise, loyal, and knowledgeable colleagues; and as ever, the Dictionary depends on the many entries written by so many contributors, to whom I also extend my heartfelt thanks and gratitude.
“My successor, William Whyte, is a most distinguished historian, a fellow collegian, and a major figure in the broader life of Oxford University and the wider cultural world beyond. He will, I am sure, be a brilliant General Editor of the Dictionary, leading it to new heights of achievement, accomplishment, and acclaim. I wish him every success, and I can’t wait for him to get started!”
William Whyte, Professor of Social and Architectural History at the University of Oxford and Chair of English Heritage’s Blue Plaques Panel, brings to the role a long and intimate knowledge of the Dictionary as an author, adviser, member of the academic advisory board, and frequent user of the Dictionary; a wide-ranging interest and expertise in modern British history and heritage matters; and a proven ability to manage large and complex projects.
William Whyte
‘‘It is the honour of my life to be asked to serve as General Editor of the ODNB. A fundamental resource for both scholars and the wider public, it has shaped my own research in all manner of ways. I look forward to working with OUP, with a brilliant team of research editors, with the advisory board, and with thousands of contributors as we think about how the Dictionary should evolve in the future without losing any of the authority it has gained in the past.
“To succeed Sir David Cannadine is, of course, a daunting prospect. His 12 years at the helm have been a glittering success, and his biographies—including the lives of Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher—are unsurpassable. But I know that we can count on his support as I seek to emulate his example.”
David Clark, Managing Director of OUP’s Academic division, said: “I am deeply grateful for David’s exceptional stewardship of the ODNB over the past 12 years, ensuring that this research tool remains authoritative, reliable, and enduring. I look forward to working with William whose expertise and experience will guide the Dictionary for new generations of readers and researchers.”
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