The Top and After the Top

Butterfield became vice-chancellor of Cambridge University on 1 October 1959, a few days before turning fifty-nine.¹ The year as deputy vice-chancellor had brought no particular difficulties, and had the merit of warning him of the mound of duties that would be heaped upon him for two years. When he was elected Master, his aim was to carry on with research and writing. He became instead virtually a full-time head of the college. Now he became the chief executive officer of the whole university as well. In outlook, sympathies, and approach, Butterfield very much remained the historian, the historian at the