Michael Baigent (1948–2013)

Baigent was born in March 1948 in Christchurch, New Zealand. He grew up in Motueka and Wakefield. His father left the family when he was 8 years old, and Baigent took the name of his maternal grandfather, Lewis Baigent. He attended Canterbury University, Christchurch, initially intending to study science, but then switched to studying comparative religion and philosophy, studying Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity. He traveled to Australia and Southeast Asia, later returning to Auckland where he received a BA in Psychology. He later earned an MA in Mysticism and Religious Experience at the University of Kent.
A Freemason and a Grand Officer of the United Grand Lodge of England, he was editor of Freemasonry Today. He was a trustee of the Canonbury Masonic Research Centre.
Baigent died from a brain haemorrhage on June 18th 2013.  He is survived by his wife, Jane, two daughters and two step-children.