Islam Scholar Dies in England

Sir Hamilton A. R. Gibb, University Professor emeritus and Jewett Professor of Arabic emeritus, died October 22 in England at the age of 76.

Gibb, a leading Islamic scholar, came to Harvard in 1955. Two years later, he became first director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, a post he held until 1966.

Gibb's academic world ranged from pre-Islamic times to current Middle East affairs. He edited the first edition of the Encyclopedia of Islam, sponsored by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences and also authored several works on Arabic history, religion and literature.

Gibb was the only European member of the Egyptian Academy of the Arabic Languages in Cairo, and was also a fellow of the British and Danish Academies.

Before coming to Harvard, he taught in St. John's College at Oxford and at the University of Chicago. He received an honorary A. M. from Harvard in 1955 and a Litt. D. in 1963.