Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson was born on 6 Aug. 1862, the son of portrait painter Cato Lowes Dickinson. He was brought up in a Christian Socialist environment and though he later rejected Christianity he saw his work in the context of its social utility. He came up to King's College from Charterhouse School in 1881 to study Classics, graduating in 1884 with a first class degree. After a short-lived career as a lecturer for the University Extension Movement and a year studying medicine, he returned to his early love of literature and began to write political histories. In 1887 he was elected to a Fellowship and lived at King's for the rest of his life. He was the College Librarian from 1893 to 1896, and a Lecturer in History from 1886 to his retirement in 1920. He was involved in the establishment of the Economics and Politics Tripos and in the teaching of Political Science within the University. He also lectured at the London School of Economics for 15 years. With Lord Dickinson and Lord Bryce he planned the ideas behind of the League of Nations, resulting in his book 'The International Anarchy'. He died on 3 August 1932.

For further biographical information about Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson see: 'Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson: Fellow of King's 1887-1932', published by King's College, 1933, including memoirs of GLD by Roger Fry and J. T. Sheppard, a poem by GLD and a short bibliography. 'Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson' obituary in King's College Annual Report, 1932, pp. 1-2. E. M. Forster 'Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson' (Edward Arnold: London, 1934) Dennis Proctor 'The Autobiography of G. Lowes Dickinson and other unpublished writings' (Duckworth: London, 1973).