Jonathan D. Spence

Jonathan D. Spence (1936–2021) was a British-American sinologist and historian who specialized in the history of China, with a particular focus on the Qing dynasty and Western relations. A prolific author and essayist, he served as Sterling Professor of History at Yale University from 1993 to 2008. He is best known for his survey The Search for Modern China and his frequent use of biographical narratives to examine cultural and political history.