G. J. Renier

Renier was born in Flushing, the child of Johanna Maria Elisabeth Renier and the maritime pilot Peter Paul Renier,^[1][2] both natives of Flushing.^[3] He was sent to school in Antwerp and Leuven, and studied history at the University of Ghent, beginning a doctorate under Henri Pirenne.

At the outbreak of the First World War he fled to England, working as a journalist, biographer and translator, and became London editor of Nieuwe Courant,^[4] began his PhD at University College in 1921, completing his doctoral thesis on 19th century Anglo-Dutch relations in 1930, under Pieter Geyl. In 1939, Renier was a BBC contract staff member.^[4] In 1936, he succeeded Geyl as Reader in Dutch History at University College London, retiring in 1957.^[5]

In contrast to his former advisor, Geyl, he took the view that Dutch and Belgian nationhood were highly distinct.^{[citation needed]}

On 17 May 1923, he married the Irish novelist Kate O'Brien, but the marriage ended within a year, and divorced 1925.^[6] O'Brien left Bilbao after less than a year, returning to London because of her sudden decision to marry Renier, the marriage only lasted eleven months.^[7]

Renier died on 1 September 1962 in Twickenham.