Background
Shannon, Edgar Finley was born on June 4, 1918 in Lexington, Virginia, United States. Son of Edgar Finley and Eleanor (Duncan) Shannon.
Shannon, Edgar Finley was born on June 4, 1918 in Lexington, Virginia, United States. Son of Edgar Finley and Eleanor (Duncan) Shannon.
Bachelor of Arts, Washington and Lee University, 1939; Doctor of Letters, Washington and Lee University, 1959; A.M., Duke U., 1941; A.M., Harvard University, 1947; Rhodes scholar, Merton College, Oxford, 1947-1950; Doctor of Philosophy, University of Oxford, 1949; Doctor of Literature, University of Oxford, 1996; Doctor of Laws, Rhodes College, 1960; Doctor of Laws, Duke U., 1964; Doctor of Laws, Hampden-Sydney College, 1971; Doctor of Humanities, Wake Forest U., 1964; Doctor of Hebrew Literature, Thomas Jefferson U., Philadelphia, 1967; Doctor of Hebrew Literature, U. Hartford, 1981; Doctor of Hebrew Literature, Ohio State University, 1981; Doctor of Letters, Centre College, 1968; Doctor of Letters, College William and Mary, 1973; Doctor of Humane Letters, Bridgewater College, 1970.
Associate professor naval. science and tactics, Harvard University, 1946;
instructor English, Harvard University, 1950-1952;
assistant Professor of English, Harvard University, 1952-1956;
associate Professor of English, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 1956-1959;
Professor of English, University of Virginia, 1959-1974;
president, University of Virginia, 1959-1974;
president emeritus, University of Virginia, since 1988;
Commonwealth Professor of English, University of Virginia, 1974-1986;
Linden Kent Memorial Professor of English, University of Virginia, 1986-1988;
professor emeritus, University of Virginia, since 1988;
department chairman English, University of Virginia, 1980-1981. Member state and district selection committees Rhodes scholars. President Council Southern Universities, 1962-1964, 71-72.
President State Universities Association, 1963-1964. Executive Committee National Association State Universities and Land-Grant Colls., 1964-1967, chairman of the executive committee, 1966-1967, president, 1965-1966. Member Southern Regional Education Board, 1963-1971.
Board of Governors National Commision on Accrediting, 1961-1967. Member United States National Common for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 1966-1967, President's Commision on Central Intelligence Agency Activities within United States, 1975.
Board visitors United States Naval Academy, 1962-1964, United States Air Force Academy, 1965-1967. Board consultant National War College, 1968-1971. Board directors American Council on Education, 1967-1970, vice chairman, 1971-1972.
Trustee Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, 1973-1988, honorary trustee, since 1988, president, 1980-1983, chairman 1987-1988. Trustee Washington and Lee University, 1973-1985, Darlington School, 1966-1976, Mariners Museum, 1966-1975, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 1975-1988. Chairman Virginia Foundation Humanities and Public Policy, 1973-1979.
Vice president Oceanic Education Foundation, 1968-1983. Board administrators Virginia Institute Marine Science, 1963-1971. Honorary vice president Tennyson Society, since 1960.
Member of council White Burkett Miller Center for Public Affairs, since 1975. Member Governor Virginia's Task Force on Science and Technology, 1982-1983. Served from midshipman to Lieutenant commander of The United States Navy Reserve, 1941-1946.
Captain Reserve retired. Member Modern Language Association, Association Virginia Colls. (president 1969-1970), Raven Society, Signet Society, Jefferson Society, Society Cincinnati, American Society Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Phi Beta Kappa (senator 1967-1985, visiting scholar 1976-1977, vice president 1976-1979, president 1979-1982, chairman Council Nominating Committee 1988-1994), Omicron Delta Kappa (Laurel Crowned Circuit award 1980), Phi Eta Sigma, Beta Theta Pi, Century Association Club, University Club (New York City).
Married Eleanor H. Bosworth, Feb.11, 1956. Children— Eleanor, Elizabeth, Lois, Susan, Virginia.