Origins & Early Life

William Hardy McNeill (October 31, 1917 – July 8, 2016) was an American historian and author, noted for his argument that contact and exchange among civilizations is what drives human history forward, first postulated in The Rise of the West (1963). He was the Robert A. Millikan Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Chicago, where he taught from 1947 until his retirement in 1987. In 1980-81 he held the George Eastman Professorship at the University of Oxford.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

William McNeill was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the son of theologian and educator John T. McNeill, where he lived until age ten. The family then moved to Chicago, while spending summers on a family farm on Canada's Prince Edward Island. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1938 from the University of Chicago, where he was editor of the student newspaper and "was inspired by the anthropologist Robert Redfield". He earned a Master of Arts degree in 1939, also at the University of Chicago, and wrote his thesis on Thucydides and Herodotus.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He began working towards a Ph.D. in history at Cornell University under Carl L. Becker. In 1941, he was drafted...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Arthur C. Clarke — Contemporary (Born in 1917) (1917): Pioneering science fiction writer, futurist, and popularizer of space travel.
• Auguste Rodin — Contemporary (Died in 1917) (1917): Founder of modern sculpture, celebrated for naturalism and emotional depth.
• Carson McCullers — Contemporary (Born in 1917) (1917): American novelist known for Southern Gothic explorations of isolation and outcasts.
• Abbas Kiarostami — Contemporary (Died in 2016) (2016): Master Iranian filmmaker known for blending fiction and documentary styles.
• Andrew Grove — Contemporary (Died in 2016) (2016): Visionary engineer and CEO who drove Intel to global semiconductor dominance.
• Andrzej Żuławski — Contemporary (Died in 2016) (2016): Pioneering Polish film director, celebrated for intense art-house cinema.
• Alexander Borodin — Shared historical date (10-31 · Born) (1833): Russian Romantic composer, chemist, and physician known for 'Prince Igor' and symphonies.
• Chiang Kai-shek — Shared historical date (10-31 · Born) (1887): Revolutionary leader of the Republic of China, governing from 1925 to 1975.
• Albert of Saxony (philosopher) — Shared historical date (07-08 · Died) (1390): German philosopher and mathematician known for logic and physics.
• Artemisia Gentileschi — Shared historical date (07-08 · Born) (1593): Master Baroque painter, renowned for dramatic depictions of female strength and myth.
• 1917 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1917
• October 31 (10-31) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 31
• 2016 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2016
• July 8 (07-08) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on July 8