Which title did C.S. Lewis receive at Cambridge University in 1954?

In 1954, C.S. Lewis became Professor of Medieval and Renaissance English at Cambridge University.

The appointment was at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where Lewis taught from 1954 until his death in 1963. The chair recognized his expertise as a literary scholar, particularly in older English literature and the intellectual traditions surrounding it.

Lewis is often remembered primarily as a Christian apologist or fantasy author, but his academic career was grounded in literary history. His scholarly work included studies of medieval and Renaissance texts, and his teaching reflected that specialization. The Cambridge appointment came after many years teaching English at Oxford’s Magdalen College.

The similar names of the two colleges can cause confusion: Lewis taught at Magdalen College, Oxford, and later held his Cambridge chair at Magdalene College. The spelling difference is part of the institutions’ official names. His Cambridge professorship was his final major academic post.