Prof. Malcolm Lamont Character in Madbury | World Anvil

Prof. Malcolm Lamont

Professor Malcolm Wallace Lamont, (born December 27, 1898) is a Scottish-American historian, philosopher, author, and educator, and a leading world authority on Hermetic Philosophies, Parapsychology, and Occult Metaphysics. He is currently on the faculty of the Philosophy Department at Litchmoor University in Madbury, New Hampshire. He is a member of many learned societies, both in Europe and in America, and has published several books on the subjects of his research.

Life and Career

Professor Lamont was born on December 27, 1898, in Aberdeen, Scotland, the third and youngest son of Rev. Erskine Lamont (1869–1935) and Cora (Forbes) Lamont (1872–1946). His father, a strict Calvinist, would have a profound influence upon his character and philosophical beliefs. A gifted child, after excelling at Aberdeen Grammar School, he studied at the University of Aberdeen, graduating with a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree at the age of 17.

He went on to study History and Medieval Literature at the University of Edinburgh, earning his Master of Letters (M.Litt.) degree in 1919, before joining the faculty there as an instructor in Medieval History. In 1922, he secured a faculty position in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Amsterdam, where he expanded his research into the field of Hermetic Philosophies. He married Jantine van Donk, daughter of a merchant from Monnickendam, in June, 1924. Their son, Erskine Forbes Lamont, was born in Amsterdam May 13, 1925. They would have no other children together.

Thereafter, Lamont, his wife and young son moved to Germany, where he continued his studies at the University of Heidelberg, earning a Ph.D. in Parapsychology in 1928. Joining the faculty at the University of Prague in 1929, he was awarded a Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) degree in 1932 for his research in the field of paranormal phenomina associated with ancient superstition and ritual. With the threat of war looming, Professor Lamont moved his family to the United States, taking a position in the Philosophy Department at Litchmoor University in 1936, where he has been a distinguished professor ever since.

In September 1944, his son Erskine, serving with the U.S. Army First Airborne Division, was reported missing in action after the retreat from the Battle of Arnham in the Netherlands, during the failed Operation Market Garden offensive. Upon hearing the news, his wife eventually descended into insanity from the weight of her grief, and has been committed to the New Hampshire State Hospital in Concord since 1946. Ever the devoted husband, Professor Lamont refuses to divorce her.

Description

Malcolm Lamont is a man of medium build, standing 5’ 8” tall and weighing 155 lbs., though he carries himself in a way that makes him appear far more imposing, with erect posture, shoulders held back from his broad chest, his head carried high, and an air of impassivity and power about him that projects confidence, strength and vigor. Wavy shocks of thick auburn hair surmount his broad forehead, beneath which his large, deeply-set sapphire-blue eyes can alternate between a stern, piercing, almost accusatory focus and a soft gaze that indicates deep thought or understanding. His nose is straight and well proportioned to his face, which is clean shaven, with a square jaw and a strong cleft chin.

He is always impeccably dressed, though not ostentatiously so, and never inappropriately for the situation. His mannerisms are refined and understated, and bespeak his strict religious upbringing and continental background. A slight Scottish brogue has followed him from his childhood in Aberdeen. He is clear and precise in his language, and soft-spoken in most circumstances, yet with a firmness and conviction that never fails to add weight to his words. Fluent in English, Dutch and German, he also reads Latin, Greek and Hebrew. His voice is deep, resonant and pleasant, further enhancing his presence and authority when he speaks.

Personality

Professor Lamont’s most striking personality trait is his obviously brilliant mind, and in particular the complete openness of it. There is virtually no thought, concept, or possibility to which his great intellect is closed, resulting over the course of his lifetime in the accumulation of a vast wealth of knowledge and understanding far beyond that of more ordinary men, even those seemingly as well-educated as himself.

He does not suffer fools easily. Yet he is never in any way condescending. Rather, he is always gracious in his treatment of others, more often inclined to seek out differing observations and opinions, in hopes of further expanding his own understanding of a particular subject, than to dominate a conversation for the purpose of gaining advantage or attention.

When asked, however, he is rarely at a loss for an insightful comment, which he always expresses with the utmost sincerity and honesty. Ever respectful and polite, he is nonetheless bluntly direct and never minces words. He speaks with authority, because he knows what he is talking about, or he doesn’t speak at all. In this way he may be perceived as aloof or haughty, but such a perception would be unfair, as it is merely a reflection of his restrained, conservative nature and synoptic perspective.

He has a clear sense of right and wrong. Armed with the courage of his convictions, instilled in him as a young man, Professor Lamont is relentless in his search for knowledge and fearless in his quest for the truth, with an unwavering focus upon his goal of understanding the true nature of human existence and promoting the cause of good over evil. He is hardworking and tireless, with seemingly boundless energy and limitless resilience.

At times, though, these his most impressive qualities can be mistaken for impatience, a lack of appreciation, or even intolerance, especially of obstacles and delays. But while it is certainly true Professor Lamont sets high expectations of others, he holds no one to a higher standard than he holds himself, and he is in fact among the kinder more true hearted people one could ever hope to meet.

Dr. Malcolm W. Lamont


UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR


Dr. Malcolm W. Lamont
Photo by Andrew Rivers, Dover, N.H.
Children

PERSONAL INFORMATION


Born
27 December 1898
Aberdeen, Scotland
Parents
Rev. Erskine Lamont
(1869-1935)
Cora Forbes
(1872-1946)
Education
Univ. of Aberdeen (M.A., 1915)
Univ. of Edinburgh (M.Litt., 1919)
Univ. of Heidelberg (Ph.D., 1928)
Univ. of Prague (D.Litt., 1932)
Spouse
Jantine van Donk
(m. 14 June 1924)
Children
Erskine F. Lamont
(1925–1944)
Fields
Philosophy
Parapsychology
Metaphysics


Image Credits:
Dr. Malcolm W. Lamont by the Author, via Wombo Dream.

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