Edward Joseph Thomas (30 July 1869 – 11 February 1958) was an English classicist, librarian and author of several books on the history of Buddhism.
In 1896, he enrolled and under the supervision of John Burnet obtained a master's degree in classics from the University of St Andrews in 1900-1901.
He was the curator of the university's library for many years and was appointed Dean of the Oriental Languages Department.
[3] His works, mainly concerned with Theravada Buddhism and reflecting Western scholarship, nonetheless remain widely cited for their clarity and accuracy.
[4] The Life of Buddha as Legend and History is inevitably cited in Buddhist research.