McNeil, William H.

William H. McNeill was born on October 31, 1917 in Vancouver, British Columbia to John T. and Netta (Hardy) McNeill. After his family moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1927, McNeill began his long association with the University of Chicago by attending a University of Chicago Laboratory School. He received his B.A. (1938), and M.A. (1939) from the University of Chicago, and completed his Ph.D. at Cornell University in 1947.

McNeill served in the United States Army from 1941 to 1946, spending his last two years of service as assistant military attaché to Greece. He returned to the University of Chicago in 1947, serving as an instructor until 1949. He became an Assistant Professor of history in 1949, Associate Professor in 1955, and Professor in 1957. In 1969, McNeill became the Robert A. Milikan Distinguished Service Professor of History.

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