Background
Van Tyne was born in Tecumseh, Michigan, to Lawrence H. and Helena van Tyne.
Van Tyne was born in Tecumseh, Michigan, to Lawrence H. and Helena van Tyne.
He finished a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1896. From 1897–1898, he studied in Leipzig, Heidelberg, and Paris.
He was a senior fellow at the University of Pennsylvania in 1902. He taught history at the University of Michigan from 1903 to 1930 and wrote several books on the American Revolution. He started his career in banking, and ascended to the cashier position.
He left his banking career, and went to the University of Michigan to pursue his higher studies.
He went back to the United States., and finished a Doctor of Philosophy degree at the University of Pennsylvania. He was a senior fellow at the University of Pennsylvania for few years, before joining the University of Michigan as an assistant professor of history in 1903.
He became professor in 1906 and head of the history department in 1911. He taught history at Michigan and chaired the department until his death in 1930.
He lectured in the French provincial universities in 1913–1914.
He died at his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan on March 21, 1930, after a long illness.