Gordon S. Wood, a prominent historian known for his research on the American Revolution and the founding fathers, died on Sunday in Providence, Rhode Island, at the age of 92. His daughter, Amy Wood, reported that he passed away in a hospital after being struck by a motorist in East Providence.
Wood was a professor emeritus of history at Brown University, where he taught since 1969. He was recognized for his contributions to understanding the events that led to the founding of the United States. His Pulitzer Prize-winning book, "The Radicalism of the American Revolution," published in 1992, argued that the colonists' rebellion was not solely against taxation but also against a longstanding social hierarchy.
In his work, Wood portrayed the founding fathers as complex individuals influenced by personal and political rivalries, rather than as idealized figures. He emphasized their understanding of moral and social values necessary for leadership in the new republic.
Throughout his career, Wood authored around a dozen books and numerous articles, including "The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787," which was nominated for a National Book Award, and "Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815," a Pulitzer finalist in 2010. He received a National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama in 2011.
Wood was also known for his mention in the film "Good Will Hunting," where the character Will references his work. Born on November 27, 1933, in Concord, Massachusetts, Wood graduated summa cum laude from Tufts University and earned a doctorate in history at Harvard. He is survived by his wife, Louise Goss, their three children, and several grandchildren.
