Date of Birth: July 30, 1909
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Date of Death: March 9, 1993
Biography
Cyril Northcote Parkinson was a distinguished British naval historian and author, best known for his formulation of “Parkinson’s Law,” which humorously states that “work expands to fill the time available for its completion.” Born in Barnard Castle, County Durham, England, Parkinson pursued an education in history, graduating from Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He later earned a doctorate in naval history from King’s College London. Parkinson’s career spanned both academia and wartime service. He taught at various institutions, including the University of Liverpool and the University of Illinois. During World War II, he served in the British Army and achieved the rank of Major. After the war, he continued his academic career and wrote extensively, producing both scholarly works and books aimed at a general audience. His most influential book, “Parkinson’s Law: The Pursuit of Progress,” published in 1957, satirized the inefficiencies of bureaucracies and became a classic in organizational theory. He passed away on March 9, 1993, in Canterbury, Kent, England.
5 Interesting Facts about C. Northcote Parkinson
1. C. Northcote Parkinson coined the term “Parkinson’s Law” in a humorous essay published in The Economist in 1955.
2. He wrote over 60 books, including historical novels, satirical works, and academic texts.
3. Parkinson served as a Major in the British Army during World War II.
4. He was a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
5. His work has influenced fields ranging from management to public administration.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from C. Northcote Parkinson
1. “Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.”
2. “The chief product of an automated society is a widespread and deepening sense of boredom.”
3. “Delay is the deadliest form of denial.”
4. “The man who is denied the opportunity of taking decisions of importance begins to regard as important the decisions he is allowed to take.”
5. “Expenditures rise to meet income.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
C. Northcote Parkinson’s net worth was never publicly disclosed, but his success as an author and historian suggests he was comfortably well-off.
Children
C. Northcote Parkinson was married to Ethelwyn Edith Graves and had two children, a son named Eustace and a daughter named Rosamund.
Relevant Links
1. [Parkinson’s Law – The Economist](https://www.economist.com/news/1955/11/19/parkinsons-law
2. [C. Northcote Parkinson on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._Northcote_Parkinson
4. [Royal Historical Society](https://royalhistsoc.org/
5. [University of Cambridge](https://www.cam.ac.uk/
