J.R.R. Tolkien was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1972.
The appointment recognized Tolkien’s contributions to literature. It came after the publication of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings had made him one of the best-known writers in the English-speaking world. Tolkien was appointed a CBE, the second-highest class of the order commonly awarded to individuals, rather than a knighthood.
He received the insignia at Buckingham Palace in 1972. The honor was one of several recognitions connected with his academic and literary career, although Tolkien’s reputation had already become international by that point.
The date can be confused with other milestones. Tolkien became a professor at Oxford much earlier, The Lord of the Rings appeared in the 1950s, and he died in 1973. CBE stands for Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.