“Hamilton” author Ron Chernow once called McCullough “both the name and the voice of American history.”īut even peers who found flaws in his work praised his kindness and generosity and acknowledged his talent.

In his 70s and 80s, he indulged his affection for Paris with the 2011 release “The Greater Journey” and for aviation with a best-seller on the Wright Brothers that came out in 2015.īeyond his books, the handsome, white-haired McCullough may have had the most recognizable presence of any historian, his fatherly baritone known to fans of PBS’s “The American Experience” and Ken Burns’ epic “Civil War” documentary. His fascination with architecture and construction inspired his early works on the Panama Canal and the Brooklyn Bridge, while his admiration for leaders whom he believed were good men drew him to Adams and Truman. He saw himself as an everyman blessed with lifelong curiosity and the chance to take on the subjects he cared most about. Through his biographies, he dramatically illustrated the most ennobling parts of the American character,” Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp said in a statement.Ī joyous and tireless student of the past, McCullough dedicated himself to sharing his own passion for history with the general public. His books brought history to life for millions of readers. “David McCullough was a national treasure.

He died less than two months after his beloved wife, Rosalee. McCullough died Sunday in Hingham, Massachusetts, according to his publisher, Simon & Schuster.

NEW YORK - David McCullough, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author whose lovingly crafted narratives on subjects ranging from the Brooklyn Bridge to Presidents John Adams and Harry Truman made him among the most popular and influential historians of his time, has died.

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