Don Higginbotham
Encyclopedia
Don Higginbotham was an American historian and Dowd Professor of History and Peace, War, and Defense at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
. A leading scholar of George Washington
, he was a pioneering practitioner of the “new” military history and an expert on colonial and revolutionary America and the early national United States. He served twice (1975–76 and 1998–99) as visiting professor of history at the United States Military Academy
.
, where he received his A.B. and M.A. degrees. He enrolled as a doctoral student at the University of Nebraska but in 1955 followed Professor John R. Alden, his adviser, to Duke University
. In 1958, upon the completion of his dissertation on Brigadier General Daniel Morgan
, Duke awarded him his Ph.D. He taught at Longwood College, the College of William and Mary
, and Louisiana State University
prior to joining the faculty at Chapel Hill where, for 41 years, he taught undergraduate and graduate students.
(1992–1993). He published numerous essays in collected volumes as well as articles in journals such as the William and Mary Quarterly
, the American Historical Review
, the Journal of Military History, the Journal of Southern History, and the Journal of the Early Republic
. He authored or edited many books, including Daniel Morgan, Revolutionary Rifleman (1961); The Atlas of the American Revolution (1974); The Papers of James Iredell (2 vols., 1976); Reconsiderations on the Revolutionary War (1978); George Washington and the American Military Tradition (1985); War and Society in Revolutionary America: The Wider Dimensions of Conflict (1988); George Washington Reconsidered (2001); George Washington: Uniting a Nation (2002); and Revolution in America: Considerations and Comparisons (2005). His 1971 book, The War of American Independence: Military Attitudes, Policies, and Practice, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize
and remains the standard account of the war and its effects on society. At the time of his death he remained at work on a book manuscript tentatively titled George Washington, Revolutionary—a study of Washington’s leadership as Continental Army commander-in-chief, head of the Constitutional Convention, and first U.S. president.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. A leading scholar of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, he was a pioneering practitioner of the “new” military history and an expert on colonial and revolutionary America and the early national United States. He served twice (1975–76 and 1998–99) as visiting professor of history at the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
.
Background
A native of Missouri, Higginbotham attended Washington University in St. LouisWashington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
, where he received his A.B. and M.A. degrees. He enrolled as a doctoral student at the University of Nebraska but in 1955 followed Professor John R. Alden, his adviser, to Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
. In 1958, upon the completion of his dissertation on Brigadier General Daniel Morgan
Daniel Morgan
Daniel Morgan was an American pioneer, soldier, and United States Representative from Virginia. One of the most gifted battlefield tacticians of the American Revolutionary War, he later commanded troops during the suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion.-Early years:Most authorities believe that...
, Duke awarded him his Ph.D. He taught at Longwood College, the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
, and Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
prior to joining the faculty at Chapel Hill where, for 41 years, he taught undergraduate and graduate students.
Achievements
Higginbotham spent five years at the helm of UNC’s history department and served as president of the Southern Historical Association (1990–1991) and the Society for Historians of the Early American RepublicSociety for Historians of the Early American Republic
The Society for Historians of the Early American Republic is an organization that was established in 1977 to study the history of the United States in the period between 1775 and 1861....
(1992–1993). He published numerous essays in collected volumes as well as articles in journals such as the William and Mary Quarterly
William and Mary Quarterly
The William and Mary Quarterly is a quarterly history journal published by the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture. It covers the history of colonial North America and the "Atlantic world" from the fifteenth to the early nineteenth centuries, including the Caribbean, West...
, the American Historical Review
American Historical Review
The American Historical Review is the official publication of the American Historical Association, established in 1895 "for the promotion of historical studies, the collection and preservation of historical documents and artifacts, and the dissemination of historical research." It targets readers...
, the Journal of Military History, the Journal of Southern History, and the Journal of the Early Republic
Journal of the Early Republic
The Journal of the Early Republic is a peer-reviewed academic journal which focuses on the early history and culture of the United States from 1776–1861. The journal is published quarterly for the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic by the University of Pennsylvania Press. The...
. He authored or edited many books, including Daniel Morgan, Revolutionary Rifleman (1961); The Atlas of the American Revolution (1974); The Papers of James Iredell (2 vols., 1976); Reconsiderations on the Revolutionary War (1978); George Washington and the American Military Tradition (1985); War and Society in Revolutionary America: The Wider Dimensions of Conflict (1988); George Washington Reconsidered (2001); George Washington: Uniting a Nation (2002); and Revolution in America: Considerations and Comparisons (2005). His 1971 book, The War of American Independence: Military Attitudes, Policies, and Practice, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
and remains the standard account of the war and its effects on society. At the time of his death he remained at work on a book manuscript tentatively titled George Washington, Revolutionary—a study of Washington’s leadership as Continental Army commander-in-chief, head of the Constitutional Convention, and first U.S. president.