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Infobox
'''Russell Kirk''' (October 19, 1918 – April 29, 1994) was an American political theorist, conservative intellectual, historian of ideas, social critic, and man of letters, who is best known for his role in the American conservative movement. Kirk's 1953 book, ''The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Santayana'',<ref>It went into 7 editions, the later ones with the title ''The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot''.</ref> attempted without complete success to lay claim to the history and direction of the modern conservative movement. His book traced the development of conservative thought in the Anglo-American tradition, giving pride of place to the ideas of 18th century British writer and statesman [[Edmund Burke]], an Irish Protestant who was sympathetic to independence for the American colonies.
{{Infobox person
| name = Russell Kirk
| image = Russell Kirk.jpg
| birth_date = October 19, 1918
| birth_place = Plymouth, Michigan
| death_date = April 29, 1994
| death_place = Mecosta, Michigan
| nationality = American
| spouse = Annette Kirk
| religion = Catholic<ref>[http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/3282/russell_kirk_conservative_convert_catholic.aspx Russell Kirk: Conservative, Convert, Catholic]</ref><ref>[http://www.theimaginativeconservative.org/2015/10/russell-kirk-dogmatic-conservative.html Russell Kirk: Dogmatic Conservative]</ref>
}}
'''Russell Amos Kirk''' (October 19, 1918 – April 29, 1994) was an American political theorist, conservative intellectual, historian of ideas, social critic, and man of letters, who is best known for his role in the American conservative movement. Kirk's 1953 book, ''The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Santayana'',<ref>It went into 7 editions, the later ones with the title ''The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot''.</ref> attempted without complete success to lay claim to the history and direction of the modern conservative movement. His book traced the development of conservative thought in the Anglo-American tradition, giving pride of place to the ideas of 18th century British writer and statesman [[Edmund Burke]], an Irish Protestant who was sympathetic to independence for the American colonies.
==Life==
==Life==
Russell Amos Kirk was born in Mecosta, Michigan, in a house his grandfather built. He was the son of Russell Andrew Kirk, a railroad engineer, and Marjorie Pierce Kirk.
Russell Kirk was born in Plymouth, Michigan,<ref>[http://www.kirkcenter.org/index.php/about-kirk/ http://www.kirkcenter.org/index.php/about-kirk/]</ref> in a house his grandfather built. He was the son of Russell Andrew Kirk, a railroad engineer, and Marjorie Pierce Kirk.
Kirk obtained his B.A. at Michigan State University, thanks to a scholarship, then took an M.A. at Duke University. After serving in the Army during World War II, he attended the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. In 1953, he became the first American to be awarded the degree of doctor of letters by that university.
Kirk obtained his B.A. at Michigan State University, thanks to a scholarship, then took an M.A. at Duke University. After serving in the Army during World War II, he attended the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. In 1953, he became the first American to be awarded the degree of doctor of letters by that university.
*The conservative side of such well-known authors as [[Samuel Taylor Coleridge]], [[Walter Scott]], [[James Fenimore Cooper]], [[Nathaniel Hawthorne]], [[James Russell Lowell]], [[George Gissing]], [[George Santayana]], and [[T. S. Eliot]];
*The conservative side of such well-known authors as [[Samuel Taylor Coleridge]], [[Walter Scott]], [[James Fenimore Cooper]], [[Nathaniel Hawthorne]], [[James Russell Lowell]], [[George Gissing]], [[George Santayana]], and [[T. S. Eliot]];
*Onscure British and American authors such as [[Fisher Ames]], [[John Randolph of Roanoke]], [[Orestes Brownson]], [[John Henry Newman]], [[Walter Bagehot]], [[Henry Maine]], [[Edwin Lawrence Godkin]], [[Leslie Stephen]], [[Albert Venn Dicey]], [[Paul Elmer More]], and [[Irving Babbitt]]. ''The Portable Conservative Reader'' (1982), which Kirk edited, contains sample writings by most of the authors he favored.
*Onscure British and American authors such as [[Fisher Ames]], [[John Randolph of Roanoke]], [[Orestes Brownson]], [[John Henry Newman]], [[Walter Bagehot]], [[Henry Maine]], [[Edwin Lawrence Godkin]], [[Leslie Stephen]], [[Albert Venn Dicey]], [[Paul Elmer More]], and [[Irving Babbitt]]. ''The Portable Conservative Reader'' (1982), which Kirk edited, contains sample writings by most of the authors he favored.
===Conservative attacks on Kirk===
===Conservative attacks on Kirk===
Some conservatives have strongly rejected Kirk's reading of the conservative tradition. Notably Claremeon scholar [[Harry Jaffa]] (a student of [[Leo Strauss]]) thought Kirk misread Burke because Burke's attack on metaphysical reasoning related only to modern philosophy's attempt to eliminate skeptical doubt from its premises and hence from its conclusions. Jaffa said:
Some conservatives have strongly rejected Kirk's reading of the conservative tradition. Notably Claremeon scholar [[Harry Jaffa]] (a student of [[Leo Strauss]]) thought Kirk misread Burke because Burke's attack on metaphysical reasoning related only to modern philosophy's attempt to eliminate skeptical doubt from its premises and hence from its conclusions. Jaffa said:
The science-fiction writer [[Jerry Pournelle]] is a protégé of Kirk's.<ref>[http://www.jerrypournelle.com/archives2/archives2view/view322.html See]</ref>
The science-fiction writer [[Jerry Pournelle]] is a protégé of Kirk's.<ref>[http://www.jerrypournelle.com/archives2/archives2view/view322.html See]</ref>
==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
* Kirk, Russell. ''Randolph of Roanoke: A Study in Conservative Thought,'' (1951) [http://www.questia.com/read/59492155 online edition]
* Kirk, Russell. ''Randolph of Roanoke: A Study in Conservative Thought,'' (1951) [http://www.questia.com/read/59492155 online edition]
* Kirk, Russell. ''Edmund Burke: A Genius Reconsidered,'' (1997) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=85677594 online edition]
* Kirk, Russell. ''Edmund Burke: A Genius Reconsidered,'' (1997) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=85677594 online edition]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
==External links==
**"[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/770015/posts The Conservative Movement: Then And Now.]" No date.
**"[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/770015/posts The Conservative Movement: Then And Now.]" No date.
* [http://www.kirkcenter.org/ Kirk Center]
* [http://www.kirkcenter.org/ Kirk Center]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirk, Russell}}
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Conservatives]]