Crane C. Brinton '19, McLean Professor of Ancient and Modern History, has assumed the duties of chairman of the Department of History, it was revealed last night. Official announcement of the appointment is expected from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences in the near future.

Brinton succeeds David E. Owen, professor of History, who moved to the chairmanship of the Committee on General Education during the summer.

An expert in modern European history, Brinton joined the Harvard faculty in 1923. Five years later he received an assistant professorship. In 1935 he became an associate professor and in 1942 was elevated to the rank of full professor.

Anatomy of Revolution"

Among the ten books Brinton has written, "The Anatomy of Revolution," published in 1938, is the most famous. His "United States and Britain," written four years ago, drew the wrath of the Chicago Tribune during its series on "Un-American international activities at Harvard."

"Crane Brinton is the Charlie McCarthy of Great Britain at Harvard," Eugene Griffin, the Tribune's reporter, wrote in January 1948.

Special Assistant

During the war, Brinton served as a special assistant to the Office of Strategic Services in the European Theater.

Last spring he was one of a panel of seven Harvard professors of liberal politics who condemned the participation of Harlaw Shapley, Paine Professor of Practical Astronomy, at the allegedly Communist-sponsored World Peace Conference in New York.