David McCullough - Author, Career and Life
David McCullough's Personal Details
David McCullough, known as the ‘master of the art of narrative history’, is an American author, narrator, historian and lecturer
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | July 7, 1933 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Yale University, Intellectuals & Academics, Historians, Biographers, Author |
| Spouses | Rosalee Ingram Barnes (m. 1954) |
| Known as | David Gaub McCullough |
| Childrens | David McCullough Jr. |
| Universities |
|
| Notable Alumnis |
|
| Birth Place | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Christian Hax McCullough |
| Mother | Ruth McCullough |
| Net Worth | $200 Million as of Sep 7,2016 |
| Sun Sign | Cancer |
| Born in | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Famous as | Author, Historian |
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David McCullough's photo
Who is David McCullough?
David Gaub McCullough, known as the ‘master of the art of narrative history’, is an American writer, narrator, historian and lecturer. For his matchless historical writing he has won prestigious awards like the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. His contribution to the field of American history, whether about the Johnstown Flood or the creation of Panama Canal or on the life of Theodore Roosevelt or on the contributions of the second President of America John Adams, has been bigger than any other historical writer, which is why he is the receiver of America’s highest civilian award, namely, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Many of McCullough’s writings have been adapted into television movies or miniseries by HBO, like, ‘Truman’, ‘John Adams’, etc. Because of his impeccable knowledge of American history and hold over his narrative skills, he has narrated many documentaries and had been a host on the ‘American Experience’ for over 12 years. What started for him as a literary interest at Yale was soon converted into a love for research and a passion to spread the details of American history all over the world, bound together with his literary and writing skills.
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Childhood & Early Life
David McCullough was born in Pennsylvania to Ruth and Christian Hax McCullough. He was one of the four sons and describes his childhood as fulfilling and happy. He was educated in Pennsylvania at Linden Avenue Grade School and Shady Side Academy.
McCullough attended the Yale University in 1951 to study English literature, which he considered to be a privilege in his life as he met with many known literary figures like John O’Hara, Thornton Wilder, Robert Penn Warren, etc. there.
Career
Right after completing his graduation in 1955, McCullough found himself working as a trainee at ‘Sports Illustrated’ in the New York City. After gaining some experience there, he worked as an editor and writer for the United States Information Agency.
He worked in the field of writing and editing for the next 12 years and while working in ‘American Heritage’ he wrote ‘The Johstown Flood’ in 1968, a chronicle of one of the most disastrous floods in the US history.
McCullough decided to become a fulltime writer and was offered to write books on San Francisco earthquake and Great Chicago Fire but instead he decided to write on the history of Brooklyn Bridge - ‘The Great Bridge’ in 1972.
In 1977, he released his book ‘The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal’. It won the National Book Award in History, the Francis Parkman Prize, the Samuel Eliot Morison Award and the Cornelius Ryan Award.
His fourth book ‘Mornings on Horseback’, which was written on the life of Theodore Roosevelt was released in 1981 It won the National Book Award, Los Angeles Times Prize for Biography and New York Public Library Literary Lion Award.
In 1991, his book ‘Brave Companions: Portraits in History’, a compilation of essays that he wrote over the period of 20 years, essays about Louis Agassiz, Alexander von Humboldt, Frederic Remington, etc.
He published his second biography titled ‘Truman’ in 1993. The book got him the first Pulitzer Prize of his life. It also got him The Colonial Dames of America Annual Book Award and ‘Truman’ was adapted into a telefilm by HBO.
Encouraged by his Pulitzer Prize, McCullough wrote another biography on the Founding Father and the second US President, ‘John Adams’ in 2002. He received second Pulitzer Prize for the book and it was also adapted in to TV miniseries by HBO.
With the success of ‘John Adams’, he wrote a companion piece to it under the title ‘1776’ in 2005, mostly concentrating on the events that started the American Revolution. It became the number one bestseller in the US.
While McCullough was considering writing a sequel to ‘1776’, he signed a contract with Simon & Schuster and published ‘The Greater Journey’ in 2011. The book is about the great Americans who went on the journey to Paris.
Major Work
McCullough’s ‘The Path Between the Seas’ is considered as one of his major works for it was his first intricately detailed history book which received the National Book Award in History, the Francis Parkman Prize, the Cornelius Ryan Award, etc.
Award & Achievements
McCullough received many prestigious awards for he is the ‘master of the art of narrative history’. He is the receiver of Presidential Medal of Freedom, Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, two Pulitzer Prizes, two National Book Awards, etc.
Personal Life & Legacy
McCullough met his wife Rosalee Barnes when he was merely 17, in Pittsburgh. They have five children together and are grandparents to eighteen grandchildren. He lives in Boston with his wife and enjoys sports, history and art.
Trivia
McCullough is a receiver of around 40 honorary degrees.
He did English honors from Yale because he thought he would become a fiction writer or a playwright.
McCullough has narrated many documentaries like, ‘The Civil War’, ‘The Statue of Liberty’ and ‘The Congress’.
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David McCullough's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | - highest civilian award | |
| 0 | - two Francis Parkman Prizes | |
| 0 | - Los Angeles Times Book Award | |
| 0 | - New York Public Library's Literary Lion Award | |
| 1995 | Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award | |
| 0 | - Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography | |
| 0 | - Jefferson Lecture | |
| 0 | - Helmerich Award | |
| 0 | - New York Times 10 Best Books of the Year | |
| 0 | - St. Louis Literary Award | |
| 0 | - National Book Award for History | |
| 0 | - Quill Award for History/current events/politics | |
| 0 | - National Book Award for Autobiography/Biography (Hardcover) | |
| 0 | - Ambassador Book Award for Biography & Autobiography | |
| 0 | - Medal of Distinguished Contribution to American Letters | |
| 0 | - National Book Award | |
| 0 | - Pulitzer Prize | |
| 0 | 2006 - Presidential Medal of Freedom | |
David McCullough biography timelines
- // 7th Jul 1933David McCullough was born in Pennsylvania to Ruth and Christian Hax McCullough. He was one of the four sons and describes his childhood as fulfilling and happy. He was educated in Pennsylvania at Linden Avenue Grade School and Shady Side Academy.
- // 1951McCullough attended the Yale University in 1951 to study English literature, which he considered to be a privilege in his life as he met with many known literary figures like John O’Hara, Thornton Wilder, Robert Penn Warren, etc. there.
- // 1953Right after completing his graduation in 1955, McCullough found himself working as a trainee at ‘Sports Illustrated’ in the New York City. After gaining some experience there, he worked as an editor and writer for the United States Information Agency.
- // 1968He worked in the field of writing and editing for the next 12 years and while working in ‘American Heritage’ he wrote ‘The Johstown Flood’ in 1968, a chronicle of one of the most disastrous floods in the US history.
- // 1972McCullough decided to become a fulltime writer and was offered to write books on San Francisco earthquake and Great Chicago Fire but instead he decided to write on the history of Brooklyn Bridge - ‘The Great Bridge’ in 1972.
- // 1977In 1977, he released his book ‘The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal’. It won the National Book Award in History, the Francis Parkman Prize, the Samuel Eliot Morison Award and the Cornelius Ryan Award.
- // 1981His fourth book ‘Mornings on Horseback’, which was written on the life of Theodore Roosevelt was released in 1981 It won the National Book Award, Los Angeles Times Prize for Biography and New York Public Library Literary Lion Award.
- // 1991In 1991, his book ‘Brave Companions: Portraits in History’, a compilation of essays that he wrote over the period of 20 years, essays about Louis Agassiz, Alexander von Humboldt, Frederic Remington, etc.
- // 1993He published his second biography titled ‘Truman’ in 1993. The book got him the first Pulitzer Prize of his life. It also got him The Colonial Dames of America Annual Book Award and ‘Truman’ was adapted into a telefilm by HBO.
- // 2002Encouraged by his Pulitzer Prize, McCullough wrote another biography on the Founding Father and the second US President, ‘John Adams’ in 2002. He received second Pulitzer Prize for the book and it was also adapted in to TV miniseries by HBO.
- // 2005With the success of ‘John Adams’, he wrote a companion piece to it under the title ‘1776’ in 2005, mostly concentrating on the events that started the American Revolution. It became the number one bestseller in the US.
- // 2011While McCullough was considering writing a sequel to ‘1776’, he signed a contract with Simon & Schuster and published ‘The Greater Journey’ in 2011. The book is about the great Americans who went on the journey to Paris.
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David McCullough's FAQ
What is David McCullough birthday?
David McCullough was born at 1933-07-07
Where is David McCullough's birth place?
David McCullough was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
What is David McCullough nationalities?
David McCullough's nationalities is American
Who is David McCullough spouses?
David McCullough's spouses is Rosalee Ingram Barnes (m. 1954)
Who is David McCullough childrens?
David McCullough's childrens is David McCullough Jr.
What was David McCullough universities?
David McCullough studied at Yale University, Yale University, Shady Side Academy
What was David McCullough notable alumnis?
David McCullough's notable alumnis is Yale University
Who is David McCullough's father?
David McCullough's father is Christian Hax McCullough
Who is David McCullough's mother?
David McCullough's mother is Ruth McCullough
What is David McCullough's sun sign?
David McCullough is Cancer
How famous is David McCullough?
David McCullough is famouse as Author, Historian