Simon Schama Biography 2025 Net Worth, Salary, Age, Born, Family, And More

Simon Schama Biography Sir Simon Michael Schama CBE FBA FRHistS FRSL born February 13, 1945 is a distinguished British historian and television presenter, known for his expertise in art history, Dutch history, Jewish history, and French history. He currently holds a position as a Professor of History and Art History at Columbia University. Schama gained widespread recognition with his 1989 book Citizens, a comprehensive history of the French Revolution. He is also celebrated for writing and hosting the BBC’s 15-part documentary series A History of Britain (2000-2002) and for other notable series like The American Future: A History (2008) and The Story of the Jews (2013). In 2018, Schama was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his contributions to history and culture.

Simon Schama Biography

Simon Schama is a prominent historian, writer, and broadcaster, known for his engaging and insightful work on history, art, and culture. His series A History of Britain and Simon Schama’s Power of Art brought history to life for many viewers, blending scholarly research with captivating storytelling. Schama’s ability to make complex historical events and figures accessible to a broad audience has earned him a loyal following. His background in both history and art history has made him a highly respected figure in the field. It’s interesting that he’s also an actor in some sense, with his work on television often feeling almost theatrical in its presentation. How familiar are you with his work?

Simon Schama Biography Details

About Simon Schama

Sir Simon Michael Schama CBE FBA FRHistS FRSL is a British historian and television presenter. He specialises in art history, Dutch history, Jewish history, and French history. He is a Professor of History and Art History at Columbia University.

1. Born: 13 February 1945 (age 79 years), Marylebone, London, United Kingdom
2. Spouse: Virginia E. Papaioannou (m. 1983)
3. Children: Chloe Frances Schama
4. Parents: Arthur Schama, Gertie Schama
5. Awards: Wolfson History Prize, The Leo Gershoy Award

Early life and education

Simon Schama was born on February 13, 1945, in Marylebone, London. His mother, Gertie (née Steinberg), was from an Ashkenazi Lithuanian Jewish family originally from Kaunas (now in Lithuania), while his father, Arthur Schama, had Sephardi Jewish ancestry from Smyrna (modern-day İzmir, Turkey), later moving through Moldova and Romania.

In the mid-1940s, Schama’s family relocated to Southend-on-Sea in Essex before returning to London. In 1956, he earned a scholarship to the prestigious Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School in Cricklewood, which later moved to Elstree, Hertfordshire, in 1961. Schama went on to study history at Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he was taught by renowned historian John H. Plumb. He graduated in 1966 with a Starred First in history.

Trivia

Simon Schama is a professor of Art History and History at Columbia University in New York City. His wife also teaches at Columbia, specializing in genetics and development. He is the father of Chloe Frances Schama (born in 1983) and the father-in-law of Michael Jason Pyle (born in 1978).

In recognition of his contributions to history and art criticism, Schama was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2001 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Later, in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours, he was knighted with the Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire for his services to history.

Schama currently resides in Briarcliff Manor, New York, where he continues his work as a professor, writer, and art historian. Though based in the U.S., he remains an active historian and broadcaster with deep ties to London.

Career

From 1966 to 1976, Simon Schama served as a fellow and director of studies in history at Christ’s College, Cambridge. He then moved to Oxford University, where he became a fellow at Brasenose College in 1976, specializing in the French Revolution. Schama also worked at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in Paris. During this period, Schama wrote his first book, Patriots and Liberators (1977), which won the Wolfson History Prize. Although originally intended as a study of the French Revolution, the book instead focused on the Dutch Patriot Revolution of the 1780s and its aftermath. His second book, Two Rothschilds and the Land of Israel (1978), explored the Zionist activities of Edmond and James Rothschild.

Personal Life

Schama is married to Virginia Papaioannou, a geneticist from California, and they have two children, Chloe and Gabriel. The family resides in Briarcliff Manor, New York, as of 2014. Schama is a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

Politics

Schama has been involved in politics, donating to Oona King’s campaign for Mayor of London in 2010. In 2014, he was among the signatories of a letter in The Guardian supporting Scotland’s continued membership in the United Kingdom. In 2017 and 2019, Schama joined other public figures in criticizing the Labour Party’s handling of antisemitism under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, particularly the rise of Anti-Zionism and its perceived antisemitic nature.

Simon Schama net worth 2025