Sydney James Christopher Lyon Butlin (1910–1977) was an Australian economist and historian. He was born on 20 October 1910 in Eastwood, a suburb of Sydney, the second of six children of Australian-born parents, Thomas Lyon Butlin, an orchard farmer and railway porter and Sara Mary, née Chantler. [1] He is the brother of notable economic historian, Noel George Butlin (1921–1991). [2]
Around 1916, Butlin moved with his family to Singleton, where he attended public school. [1] He went on to attend East Maitland Boys' High School (1923–27), where he was awarded dux. [3] In 1926, when Butlin was 16 years old, his father was killed in a hit-and-run accident, leaving his wife and children penniless. [1] This led to Butlin becoming the financial head of the household, with his mother and older sisters taking in washing to support the family. [1]
Butlin was awarded a public exhibition in 1928 and enrolled in economics at the University of Sydney (B.Ec., 1932). [1] After being awarded many travelling scholarships, he entered Trinity College, Cambridge (B.A., 1934; M.A., 1939), where he gained the following accolades: Economics (first place, high distinction), English (second place, high distinction), the Frank Albert Prize for general proficiency and the Chamber of Commerce Prize for the best degree pass. [1] [4]
Butlin pioneered the historical study of Australian money and banking according to rigorous professional standards. [5] He was a member of the Faculty of Economics at the University of Sydney from 1935 and accepted a personal chair at The Australian University in 1971, where he finished his working career. [1] [5]
He is the author and co-author of several seminal works in the fields of economics and history, including:
Butlin died of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm on 14 December 1977 at the Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, and was cremated. [1]