David McCullough, American historian (1933- )

 Author and historian David McCullough passed away August 7th at the age of 89.

  Known for his histories and biographies, McCullough shaped the popular understanding of the American past, and his impact on US history will not soon be forgotten.

Born July 7, 1933 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, David McCullough had many interests as a child, from learning history to playing sports to drawing cartoons.  McCullough eventually settled upon English, which he studied at Yale University alongside novelist and playwright Thornton Wilder.  He graduated in 1955 with a bachelor’s degree in English and the intention of becoming a fiction writer or a playwright.  But the world, it seemed, had other plans.

After a series of jobs in journalism, McCullough stumbled upon an intriguing (and little researched) historical event: the catastrophic Johnstown Flood.  His part-time research into this natural disaster eventually grew into McCullough’s first — and much lauded — published book.

Following the success of The Johnstown Flood, McCullough dedicated himself to writing full-time, publishing twelve more histories over the course of his life.  Among his subjects were great American projects, such as the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Panama Canal, and the lives of historical figures.  With his in-depth, deeply human histories, McCullough quickly cemented himself as a brilliant new voice in American history.  In a review for McCullough's biography of Theodore Roosevelt, the New York Times wrote: “We have no better social historian.”

Over the course of his career, McCullough was the recipient of numerous accolades and awards.  He was twice awarded the Pulitzer Prize: first in 1993 for Truman, and again in 2002 for John Adams.  McCullough also received two National Book Awards, the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, and more than 50 honorary degrees from universities around the country, including his alma mater.  In 2006, McCullough was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award.

In addition to his research and writing, McCullough was a sought-after lecturer, as well as a film narrator.  He lent his voice to over fifteen historical films, including Ken Burns’ The Civil War.  His most recent book The Pioneers was published in 2019, shedding new light on the settling of the Northwest Territory.  

According to his publisher Simon & Schuster, David McCullough died Sunday, August 7th in Hingham, Massachusetts.  His passing comes just two months after the death of his wife Rosalee.  He is succeeded by their five children — and an unforgettable legacy