Dr Rory M. Butcher

Post-PhD @LeedsUniHistory Fencibles & UK Home Defence 1793-1802 | Army Records Fellowship | Occasional Goaltender | Opinions are mine | he/him

[Dr Rory M. Butcher @RMB_History]

Well that's some fun news!

My 1st article on #18thC history is now live: https://t.co/K0Byo89YbQ.

I argue that the fencibles' relationship with authority was fundamentally shaped by their limited service: in how justice was done and how men engaged with their officers

/1

[Dr Rory M. Butcher @RMB_History]

So turns out that copying over 220 GB of your PhD and early academic career takes....a long while and much of a laptop processing power.

Who knew?

[Dr Rory M. Butcher @RMB_History]

Slightly surreally, I've had a student email me to, amongst other practical things, personally thank me for my teaching this year, saying that I am a "great orator and always provided interesting and challenging perspectives".

I'm not quite sure how flattered I should be!

[Dr Rory M. Butcher @RMB_History]

A bittersweet moment to have finished teaching my last classes of the semester (and if things don't go well, possibly my academic career)...

Oh well, just got marking to look forward to!

[Dr Rory M. Butcher @RMB_History]

A complex man with a...nuanced legacy - and one who definitely deserves a biography (beyond Michael Fry's political analysis), biopic, and at least one podcast 👀👀👀

[Dr Rory M. Butcher @RMB_History]

While I'm back in Edinburgh, likely for the last time while researching the fencibles, I thought I'd make a point of visiting this statue of Henry Dundas one final time. And why? Well, because Henry Dundas was fundamentally the reason the fencibles existed!

/1

[Dr Rory M. Butcher @RMB_History]

...less great if you wanted any oversight in central government (like many did, and indeed continue to do!) or he just didn't like you.

It's little wonder he wasn't exactly welcomed back by all when Pitt regained power.

/7

[Dr Rory M. Butcher @RMB_History]

Small archiving win for the day: revisiting a source I struggled with the handwriting of 5-6 years ago, and now being able to read every word!

[Dr Rory M. Butcher @RMB_History]

@SilenceInPolish So apparently the price of victory is 30% less than usual?

[Dr Rory M. Butcher @RMB_History]

@GraemeCallister What a shill. Are you in the pocket of Big Paperback now too? #hardbackforlife

[Dr Rory M. Butcher @RMB_History]

I'm curious - has anyone else incorporated elements of historical speech/writing into their own?

I'll start. I now write "tho" and "altho" like many 18thC letter writers did, because I like how it looks in print and it's quicker to write.

#history

[Dr Rory M. Butcher @RMB_History]

A great pleasure to be invited to @History_Bham to speak about the dichotomy between professionalism and patronage in the fencibles! Some very insightful discussion and a lovely evening socialising afterwards

#academiclife

[Dr Rory M. Butcher @RMB_History]

@EarlOfTunis Very kind of you! A few immediate projects in the pipeline, and then yes hopefully...

[Dr Rory M. Butcher @RMB_History]

And that's it! Over the last 4 and a half years I have carried out research in 28 archives across the British Isles, written a 100k+ word thesis, defended it in a viva, and at last my corrections are approved (and the thesis finally submitted).

#phdone

[Dr Rory M. Butcher @RMB_History]

I offer no further comment at this time.

Brb adding dr to my name on here

#vivadone #itsdoctoractually

[Neil Renic @NC_Renic]

Anyone can write a terrible first draft. Do you have the courage to write a terrible last draft