Samuel Mack Eastman (1882-1968), who became the University of British Columbia's first professor of history, was born in Oshawa, Ontario. After completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, Eastman used fellowships to study at the University of Paris (1908-1911) and Columbia University (1911-1912). During these years, he developed a keen interest in international affairs. After leaving Columbia, he went to Calgary College, where he taught history and introduced International Studies. Eastman moved to UBC in 1915. He remained at the university until 1925 (with a brief interruption between 1916 and 1918 for war service). In 1919, Eastman became head of the Department of History, holding the position until 1925, when he resigned to work in the International Labour Office in Geneva. He fled Europe after the collapse of the Western Front (1940). He returned to Canada, taking a position at the University of Saskatchewan. Eastman retired to Vancouver in 1949 and became actively involved in Canada's United Nations Association and the Canadian Institute of International Affairs.