Origins & Early Life

Michael George Francis Ventris (; 12 July 1922 – 6 September 1956) was an English architect, classicist and philologist who deciphered Linear B, the ancient Mycenaean Greek script. A student of languages, Ventris had pursued decipherment as a personal vocation since his adolescence. After creating a new field of study, Ventris died in a car crash a few weeks before the publication of Documents in Mycenaean Greek, written with John Chadwick. Ventris was born into a traditional army family.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His grandfather, Francis Ventris, was a major-general and Commander of British Forces in China. His father, Edward Francis Vereker Ventris, was a lieutenant-colonel in the Indian Army, who retired early due to ill health. Edward Ventris married Anna Dorothea (Dora) Janasz, who was from a wealthy Jewish and Polish paternal background. Michael Ventris was their only child. The family moved to Switzerland for eight years, seeking a healthy environment for Colonel Ventris.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Young Michael started school in Gstaad, where classes were taught in French and German. He soon mastered the Swiss German dialect. A few weeks in Sweden after the Second World War enabled him to become...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aage Bohr — Contemporary (Born in 1922) (1922): Pioneering Danish nuclear physicist, Nobel laureate for atomic structure theory.
• Agostinho Neto — Contemporary (Born in 1922) (1922): Angolan communist revolutionary, poet, and first President of Angola.
• Alain Resnais — Contemporary (Born in 1922) (1922): Pioneering French filmmaker exploring memory, consciousness, and narrative structure.
• A. A. Milne — Contemporary (Died in 1956) (1956): Celebrated English author, famed for Winnie-the-Pooh and children's literature.
• Aileen Wuornos — Contemporary (Born in 1956) (1956): American serial killer known for murdering seven male clients in Florida.
• Alain Ducasse — Contemporary (Born in 1956) (1956): Renowned French-born Monégasque chef, celebrated for Michelin-starred cuisine.
• Alexander Cartwright — Shared historical date (07-12 · Died) (1892): Founding member of the Knickerbockers and developer of early baseball rules.
• Alfred Dreyfus — Shared historical date (07-12 · Died) (1935): French Army officer central to the antisemitic Dreyfus Affair, sparking a major political crisis.
• Abaoji — Shared historical date (09-06 · Died) (926): Founder of the Khitan Empire and first Emperor of the Liao Dynasty.
• Adolf Dassler — Shared historical date (09-06 · Died) (1978): Pioneering German cobbler and inventor who founded the sportswear giant Adidas.
• 1922 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1922
• July 12 (07-12) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on July 12
• 1956 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1956
• September 6 (09-06) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 6