US Senator. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Hayakawa graduated from the University of Manitoba and McGill University before receiving his PhD in 1935 from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He returned to teach English at the University of Wisconsin from 1936 until 1939 and then taught at Armour Institute of Technology from 1939 until 1947. In 1941 he published his first book, entitled "Language in Action" and revised in 1949 as "Language in Thought and Action," which established him as a leading expert on semantics, the study of meanings in language. After a brief time lecturing at the University of Chicago, he moved to California where he was a professor of English at San Francisco State University from 1955 until 1958. In 1968 he was appointed President of San Francisco State until 1973. At the time of his appointment, the university had been experiencing student strikes against racism and the Vietnam War. On December 2, 1968, Hayakawa gained national attention when, in front of reporters and television cameras, he climbed onto the strikers' sound truck and ripped out the wires from the loudspeakers, effectively ending the day's strike. In 1977 he was elected to represent California in the United States Senate, a post he held until 1983.
US Senator. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Hayakawa graduated from the University of Manitoba and McGill University before receiving his PhD in 1935 from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He returned to teach English at the University of Wisconsin from 1936 until 1939 and then taught at Armour Institute of Technology from 1939 until 1947. In 1941 he published his first book, entitled "Language in Action" and revised in 1949 as "Language in Thought and Action," which established him as a leading expert on semantics, the study of meanings in language. After a brief time lecturing at the University of Chicago, he moved to California where he was a professor of English at San Francisco State University from 1955 until 1958. In 1968 he was appointed President of San Francisco State until 1973. At the time of his appointment, the university had been experiencing student strikes against racism and the Vietnam War. On December 2, 1968, Hayakawa gained national attention when, in front of reporters and television cameras, he climbed onto the strikers' sound truck and ripped out the wires from the loudspeakers, effectively ending the day's strike. In 1977 he was elected to represent California in the United States Senate, a post he held until 1983.
Bio by: G.Photographer
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