Richard Pankhurst was a British academic and historian who was known for his research on Ethiopia. He was born on June 28, 1922 in London, England, and was the son of Sylvia Pankhurst and René Marchand. Pankhurst was educated at Oxford University, where he earned a degree in Modern History.
After completing his studies, Pankhurst moved to Ethiopia and began working as a researcher and historian. He became a leading expert on the country's history, culture, and society, and published numerous books and articles on these subjects. He was also a professor at Addis Ababa University, where he taught courses on Ethiopian history and culture.
Pankhurst was actively involved in the efforts to preserve Ethiopia's cultural heritage, and was a founder of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at Addis Ababa University. He was also a member of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences, and served as its president from 1992 to 1994.
In addition to his work as a historian, Pankhurst was also a human rights activist, and was involved in efforts to promote democracy and freedom of expression in Ethiopia. He passed away on February 15, 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.