The Importance of History: Reflections on Salem Stories from Across the Pond

In this talk, the Warden of New College, Oxford, Miles Young, will explore the value of history: why it is still an important discipline to be taught; the differences between remembrance and history; and the distortions which history can sometimes create.

He will do this through the lens of Salem’s 400th Anniversary, commemorating the contributions of Salem’s past and current communities, and will consider narratives surrounding the 1692 witch hysteria, the American Revolution, and the maritime trade from the perspective of the other side of the Atlantic.

Miles Young was educated at Bedford School, Bedford, where he first encountered the English Speaking Union and won a Public Speaking prize. He then went to New College, Oxford, where he graduated with First Class Honours in Modern History. Subsequently, he began a career in advertising, working for various agencies before joining Ogilvy & Mather.

During his time in the United States, he served as Chair of the US-Pakistan Business Council and led trade delegations to the country.

In 2016, he returned to the UK to become Warden of New College, Oxford, and to join the higher education world. He has served as the Chair of the Oxford Conference of Colleges, as well as on a range of University bodies. He is Chair of the Voltaire Foundation and of the University Governance Forum.

This is a Salem400+ event. Tickets are free, but registration is required.