Alan Taylor (historian)

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Alan Taylor (historian)

Role / Field:

Leading American historian specializing in early US colonial and revolutionary history.

Born:

1955-06-17

Century / Era:

1955s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Foundations

Alan Shaw Taylor (born June 17, 1955) is an American historian and scholar who, most recently, was the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation Professor of History at the University of Virginia. A specialist in the early history of the United States, Taylor has written extensively about the colonial history of the United States, the American Revolution, and the early American Republic. Taylor has received two Pulitzer Prizes and the Bancroft Prize, and was also a finalist for the National Book Award for non-fiction. Taylor was born on June 17, 1955 in Portland, Maine, the son of Ruel Taylor, Jr.

Key Developments & Impact

and author Virginia C. He graduated from Colby College, in Waterville, Maine, in 1977, and earned his PhD from Brandeis University in 1986. Before going to the University of Virginia, Taylor taught at the University of California, Davis and Boston University. Taylor is best known for his contributions to microhistory, exemplified in his William Cooper's Town: Power and Persuasion on the Frontier of the Early American Republic (1996). Using court records, land records, letters and diaries, Taylor reconstructed the background of founder William...

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1955 (1955-06-17): Birth of Alan Taylor (historian) — Leading American historian specializing in early US colonial and revolutionary history.
2. 1977: 1977 Milestone — He graduated from Colby College, in Waterville, Maine, in 1977, and earned his PhD from Brandeis University in 1986.
3. 1996: 1996 Milestone — Taylor is best known for his contributions to microhistory, exemplified in his William Cooper's Town: Power and Persuasion on the Frontier of the Early American Republic (1996).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Alan Taylor (historian)

True or False: “Alan Taylor's primary area of historical expertise is the late 19th-century industrial boom.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): His specialization lies in the early colonial period, the American Revolution, and the early American Republic.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Akiko Yano — Contemporary (Born in 1955) (1955): Pioneering Japanese jazz and pop singer known for her eclectic style.
• Akira Toriyama — Contemporary (Born in 1955) (1955): Pioneering manga artist, creator of Dr. Slump and the global phenomenon, Dragon Ball.
• Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud — Contemporary (Born in 1955) (1955): Saudi billionaire, investor, and influential member of the House of Saud.
• Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar — Shared historical date (06-17 · Died) (1797): Founder of the Qajar Dynasty, who reunified Iran and established Tehran as its capital.
• Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke — Shared historical date (06-17 · Died) (1963): British Field Marshal and Chief of the Imperial General Staff during WWII.
• Alain Prost — Historical peer (Born in 1955) (1955): Four-time Formula One World Champion, nicknamed 'The Professor'.
• Alan Garber — Historical peer (Born in 1955) (1955): American physician and health economist, current President of Harvard University.
• A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada — Historical peer (Died in 1977) (1977): Pioneering global spread of Krishna consciousness teachings and the Hare Krishna mantra.
• A Certain Ratio — Historical peer (Born in 1977) (1977): English post-punk band known for blending funk, disco, and Latin percussion.
• Aaron Swartz — Historical peer (Born in 1986) (1986): Pioneering programmer, activist, and hacktivist known for RSS, Markdown, and progressive organizing.
• 1955 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1955
• June 17 (06-17) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on June 17

Frequently Asked Questions about Alan Taylor (historian)