Paul Horgan

Date of Birth: August 1, 1903

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: March 8, 1995

Biography

Paul Horgan was an American author and historian best known for his works on the history and culture of the American Southwest. Born on August 1, 1903, in Buffalo, New York, Horgan moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, with his family in 1915, a relocation that would deeply influence his later writings. He attended New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, where he began his lifelong fascination with the history and landscape of the Southwest. Horgan’s literary career spanned several decades, during which he wrote both fiction and non-fiction. His most famous work, “Great River: The Rio Grande in North American History,” won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1954. This two-volume work is a comprehensive and detailed account of the Rio Grande’s significance to the development of the American Southwest. Horgan was also an accomplished novelist, with works such as “A Distant Trumpet” and “The Fault of Angels.” His writing is noted for its vivid descriptions and deep understanding of the human condition. Over his lifetime, Horgan received numerous accolades, including two Pulitzer Prizes, the Bancroft Prize, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal for History.

5 Interesting Facts about Paul Horgan

1. Paul Horgan won two Pulitzer Prizes, one for “Great River: The Rio Grande in North American History” and another for “Lamy of Santa Fe.”

2. He moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, with his family at the age of 12, a move that influenced much of his later work.

3. Horgan served as a director of the Yale University Press from 1946 to 1955.

4. He was a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters and received the American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal for History in 1979.

5. Horgan’s work often focused on the cultural and historical aspects of the American Southwest, blending meticulous historical research with narrative storytelling.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Paul Horgan

1. “The past is a source of knowledge, and the future is a source of hope. Love of the past implies faith in the future.”

2. “History is the record of an encounter between character and circumstance.”

3. “To write history is to make it come alive.”

4. “The landscape of the American Southwest is not just a scene, but a presence.”

5. “In the end, it is the mystery that lasts and not the explanation.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Paul Horgan’s highest net worth is not well-documented, but his works, accolades, and contributions to American literature and history suggest a successful and financially stable career.