Origins & Early Life

James Henry Breasted (; August 27, 1865 – December 2, 1935) was an American archaeologist, Egyptologist, and historian. After completing his PhD at the University of Berlin in 1894 – the first American to obtain a doctorate in Egyptology – he joined the faculty of the University of Chicago. In 1901, he became director of the Haskell Oriental Museum at the university, where he continued to concentrate on Egypt. In 1905, Breasted was promoted to full professor and held the first chair in Egyptology and Oriental History in the United States.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Breasted was a committed field researcher in Egypt and the Levant and had a productive interest in recording and interpreting ancient writings, especially from sources and structures that he feared may be lost forever. In 1919, he founded the Oriental Institute (later known as, the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures) at the University of Chicago, a center for interdisciplinary study of ancient civilizations. That same year, he was elected to the American Philosophical Society. James Henry Breasted was born on August 27, 1865, the son of a small hardware business owner and his wife, in Rockford, Illinois. His...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abraham Isaac Kook — Contemporary (Born in 1865) (1865): Pioneering Orthodox Rabbi and Father of Religious Zionism.
• Abraham Lincoln — Contemporary (Died in 1865) (1865): 16th President of the United States; guided the nation through the Civil War.
• Akseli Gallen-Kallela — Contemporary (Born in 1865) (1865): Leading Finnish painter and pioneer of national romantic art, famed for the Kalevala.
• 14th Dalai Lama — Contemporary (Born in 1935) (1935): Spiritual leader of Tibet and head of Tibetan Buddhism since 1940.
• A. J. Foyt — Contemporary (Born in 1935) (1935): Legendary American racing driver, known for winning the Indy 500 four times.
• Adnan Khashoggi — Contemporary (Born in 1935) (1935): Saudi businessman and arms dealer, known as 'The Great Gatsby of the Middle East'
• Aaron Paul — Shared historical date (08-27 · Born) (1979): American actor, renowned for portraying Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad.
• Amalia Fuentes — Shared historical date (08-27 · Born) (1940): Filipino actress, known as the Queen of Philippine Movies in the 1960s.
• Aaron Copland — Shared historical date (12-02 · Died) (1990): Pioneering American composer, conductor, and critic, known as the "Dean of American Music".
• Alicia Markova — Shared historical date (12-02 · Died) (2004): Pioneering British ballerina, choreographer, and founder of major ballet institutions.
• 1865 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1865
• August 27 (08-27) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on August 27
• 1935 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1935
• December 2 (12-02) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on December 2