Edward Impey

FSA FRHistS

Impey addressing a conference in 2010

Born|

Edward Alexander Impey

(1962-05-28) 28 May 1962 (age 61)
Nationality| British
Occupation| Museum director
Known for| Director General of the Royal Armouries (2013—2022)
Title| Master of the Armouries
Spouse|

Karen Lundgren

(m. 2008)​

Children| Two
Awards| Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
Fellow of the Royal Historical Society
Academic background
Education| Dragon School
Bedales School
Alma mater| Oriel College, Oxford
Thesis| The origins and development of non-conventual monastic dependencies in England and Normandy 1000–1350 (1991)
Academic work
Discipline| History and archaeology

Edward Alexander Impey, FSA, FRHistS (born 28 May 1962) is a British historian, archaeologist, and museum curator. Between October 2013 and January 2022 he was Master of the Armouries and Director General of the Royal Armouries.[1][2]

## Early life and education[edit]

Impey was born on 28 May 1962 to Oliver Impey and Jane Mellanby.[2] His father was a zoologist by training who became specialist in Japanese art, and his mother was a neuroscientist.[3] His grandfather Kenneth Mellanby was a biochemist. He grew up in the City of Oxford where his father was a curator at the Ashmolean Museum.[3] He was educated at the Dragon School, a preparatory school in Oxford, and at Bedales School, a private school near Petersfield, Hampshire.[2]

Impey has degrees in history and archaeology.[4] He studied at Oriel College, Oxford, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree.[2] At Oxford, the BA is promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Oxon) degree a number of years after graduating, and an MPhil is a two-year taught master's degree. He remained at the University of Oxford to undertake postgraduate research, and completed his Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree in 1991.[2] His doctoral thesis was titled The origins and development of non-conventual monastic dependencies in England and Normandy 1000–1350.[5]

## Career[edit]

Impey worked as a curator at Historic Royal Palaces and served as Director of Heritage Protection and Planning at English Heritage.[1] On 30 July 2013, he was announced as the next Master of the Armouries and Director General of the Royal Armouries.[1] In 2022, however, he retired from this job and from work. He took up the appointments in October 2013 in succession to Lieutenant-General Jonathon Riley.[1][4] Along with John Goodall, Impey is a patron of the Castle Studies Trust, a UK registered charity.[6]

## Personal life[edit]

In 2008, Impey married Karen Lundgren.[2] Together, they have two daughters.[1][2]

## Honours[edit]

On 2 May 1996, Impey was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA).[7] In 2011, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS).[2]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e "Royal Armouries appoints new Director General". Royal Armouries. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h "IMPEY, Dr Edward Alexander". Who's Who 2016. Oxford University Press. November 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
3. ^ a b "Oliver Impey". The Daily Telegraph. 31 October 2005. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
4. ^ a b "Director General and Master of the Armouries". Royal Armouries. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
5. ^ Impey, Edward (1991). The origins and development of non-conventual monastic dependencies in England and Normandy 1000–1350. Electronic Thesis Online Service (Ph.D). The British Library. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
6. ^ "About the CST". Castle Studies Trust. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
7. ^ "Dr Edward A M Impey FSA". Fellows Directory. Society of Antiquaries of London. Retrieved 28 May 2016.

## External links[edit]

Scholia has an author profile for Edward Impey.

Cultural offices

Preceded by

Lieutenant-General Jonathon Riley

|  Master of the Armouries
2013 to 2022  | Succeeded by

Nat Edwards

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* France
* BnF data
* Israel
* United States
* Netherlands

Other|

* IdRef

*[m.]: married