Background
Kirby, William C. was born on July 31, 1950 in Mount Vernon, New York, United States. Son of Theodore Burnett and Jean Elizabeth (Tompkins) Kirby.
Kirby, William C. was born on July 31, 1950 in Mount Vernon, New York, United States. Son of Theodore Burnett and Jean Elizabeth (Tompkins) Kirby.
AB summa cum laude, Dartmouth College, 1972. AM, Freie University, Berlin, 1973. AM, Harvard University, 1974.
Doctor of Philosophy, Harvard University, 1981.
Assistant professor Washington University, St. Louis, 1980-1986, director international affairs, 1983-1988, associate professor, 1987-1991, director Asian studies, 1988-1991, dean, 1988-1992, professor history, 1991-1992, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, since 1992, chairman Council on East Asian Studies, 1993-1997, chairman department history, 1995—2000, Edith and Benjamin Geisinger professor history, since 1999, director Asia Center, since 1999, dean Faculty of Arts and Sciences, 2002—2006, T.M. Chang professor China studies, Spangler Family professor business administration, since 2008. Director Fairbank Center Chinese studies, since 2006. Visiting professor Harvard University, Cambridge, 1989-1990.
General editor Modern China series Cambridge University Press, New York City, since 1996.
Member Association for Asian Studies, American History Association.
Married Yvette Sheahan, May 14, 1977. Children: Theodore, Elizabeth.