Joseph John Ellis is an American historian whose work focuses on the lives and times of the founders of the United States of America. American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson won a National Book Award and Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for History. Both these books were bestsellers.
| Born: | Joseph John Ellis, July 18, 1943, Alexandria, Virginia |
| Occupation: | Professor, writer |
| Nationality: | American |
| Alma mater: | College of William and Mary (BA), Yale University (M.A.) (PhD) |
| Genre: | History |
| Subject: | U.S, c. 1770 to 1828 |
| Notable works: | Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation |
About Joseph Ellis
Notable for his Pulitzer Prize-winning historical book Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation and for his National Book Award-winning work American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson, Ellis also wrote several works focusing on the lives of first and second United States Presidents George Washington and John Adams.
Before Fame
After graduating from Virginia's College of William and Mary, he earned his doctorate from Yale University and subsequently taught at the U.S. Military Academy, followed by Mount Holyoke College.
Achievement
He stirred controversy and was temporarily relieved of his teaching duties at Mount Holyoke College after he falsely claimed both to his university students and to media outlets that he had served in the Vietnam War.
Family Life
Born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area, he later settled in Amherst, Massachusetts. His marriage to Ellen Wilkins Ellis resulted in three children.
Associations
Ellis' works and those of fellow historical writer Douglass Adair both focus on the United States' Founding Fathers.
Information related to Joseph Ellis
- http://www.josephellishistorian.com Official site
- http://www.pulitzer.org/biography/2001,History Biography from The Pulitzer Board
