A Cumbrian man has been elected as a Fellow of the British Academy thanks to his academic distinction and research.

Dr David McCallam was born in Cockermouth and attended Derwent School and Cockermouth Grammar School before starting work at the University of Sheffield.

He has been elected as a Fellow of the British Academy, a prestigious honour which includes Professor Dame Mary Beard and Professor David Olusoga, with  only 52 people elected each year from across 21 UK universities.

David McCallamDavid McCallam (Image: Supplied)

David is currently a Reader in French Eighteenth-Century Studies in the School of Languages and Cultures at the University Of Sheffield.

Welcoming the new Fellows for 2024, President of the British Academy Professor Julia Black said:

“We are delighted to welcome this year’s cohort of Fellows, and I offer my warmest congratulations to each and every one. Since the Academy was created in 1902, our Fellows have been the lifeblood of the organisation, representing the very best of our disciplines – and we would not have the impact we have without their expertise, time and energy. I very much look forward to working closely with our new Fellows; the breadth and depth of their expertise adds so much to the Academy.”