# Frederick Turner

## Biography

Frederick Jackson Turner was an influential American historian, born in Portage, Wisconsin, in 1861. He is widely recognized for his groundbreaking "frontier thesis," which he first presented in his 1893 essay, "The Significance of the Frontier in American History." Turner argued that the ongoing experience of westward expansion and the existence of a continually receding frontier profoundly shaped American democracy, character, and institutions, fostering distinct traits like individualism and a spirit of innovation.

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 1884, Turner earned his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in 1890. He taught at the University of Wisconsin from 1889 until 1910, then moved to Harvard University, where he continued to influence a generation of historians. Though not a prolific author, his interpretive theories significantly impacted American historical scholarship. His collected essays, including "The Frontier in American History" and "The Significance of Sections in American History," the latter earning a posthumous Pulitzer Prize, cemented his legacy. Turner passed away in 1932.

## Books

- [The Frontier in American History](https://samolit.com/books/96137)