Edmund Morgan

Date of Birth: January 17, 1916

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: July 8, 2013

Biography

Edmund Sears Morgan was an influential American historian renowned for his work on early American history, particularly focusing on Puritanism and the American Revolution. Born on January 17, 1916, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Morgan grew up in Arlington, Massachusetts. He received his A.B. from Harvard University in 1937 and his Ph.D. in the History of American Civilization from Harvard in 1942. His academic career included teaching positions at the University of Chicago, Brown University, and Yale University, where he taught from 1955 until his retirement in 1986. Morgan authored several significant books, including “The Puritan Dilemma: The Story of John Winthrop,” “Inventing the People: The Rise of Popular Sovereignty in England and America,” and “American Slavery, American Freedom: The Ordeal of Colonial Virginia.” His work earned him numerous accolades, including the Bancroft Prize and a National Humanities Medal. Morgan passed away on July 8, 2013, leaving behind a rich legacy in the field of American historical scholarship.

5 Interesting Facts about Edmund Morgan

1. Edmund Morgan was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for History in 2006 for his lifetime contributions to the field.

2. He served as the President of the Organization of American Historians in 1971-1972.

3. Morgan’s book “American Slavery, American Freedom” is considered a seminal work in understanding the paradox of American liberty and slavery.

4. He was a mentor to many prominent historians, including Annette Gordon-Reed and Pauline Maier.

5. Morgan received the Yale University’s highest honor, the William Clyde DeVane Medal, in 1971.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Edmund Morgan

1. “The American Revolution was a beginning, not a consummation.”

2. “The fact that our founding fathers were not perfect men does not mean that the principles they enunciated were imperfect.”

3. “Historically, the most terrible things – war, genocide, and slavery – have resulted not from disobedience, but from obedience.”

4. “History, like life, is complicated and messy. Historians must resist the temptation to simplify it unduly.”

5. “The challenge for us is to understand the perspectives of those who lived in other times and other places.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Edmund Morgan’s net worth was estimated to be modest, primarily derived from his academic salary and book royalties, which was typical for historians of his era. Exact figures are not publicly available.