Hugh Swynnerton Thomas, Baron Thomas of Swynnerton (1931–2017), was a distinguished British historian, primarily known for his studies of the Hispanic world. His international reputation is linked to his monumental work, *The Spanish Civil War* (1961), a text considered fundamental in the historiography of the conflict, for which he received the Somerset Maugham Award. His prolific academic career included the authorship of other major works, such as *The Conquest of Mexico*, *The Slave Trade*, and an extensive trilogy on the Spanish Empire. In addition to his work as a writer, Thomas was also active in politics: initially a supporter of the Labour Party, he later became an influential conservative and an advisor to Margaret Thatcher, and was created a life peer in 1981. For his outstanding contribution to history, he received numerous international honors, including the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic from Spain and the Order of the Aztec Eagle from Mexico, a testament to the profound impact of his work.