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George Will

George Frederick Will is an American journalist, columnist, and political commentator known for conservative and later libertarian-conservative commentary.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

George Frederick Will is an American journalist, columnist, and political commentator known for conservative and later libertarian-conservative commentary. He has written a regular column for The Washington Post and won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1977.

Early life and education

Will was born in Champaign, Illinois, in 1941. He later earned degrees from Trinity College, Oxford University, and Princeton University, and taught political philosophy at several universities.

Career

Will became known as a columnist and commentator, with work published in newspapers and magazines and appearances on television news programs. His career has included editing and commentary roles as well as authorship of books on politics and baseball.

Political views

Will is generally described as a conservative writer, and some sources characterize his views as libertarian conservative. Over time, he has also criticized some Republican politicians and political movements.

Awards and recognition

Will received the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1977, one of the best-known honors for opinion journalism. He has also been widely cited as a prominent political columnist.

Key facts

  • George Will was born in Champaign, Illinois, in 1941.
  • He is widely known for conservative political commentary and newspaper columns.
  • He has written a regular column for The Washington Post.
  • He won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1977.
  • He has also worked as a commentator for broadcast news outlets.
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Canadian context

George Will has no major Canada-specific biography angle in the provided sources, but Canadian readers may know him through his commentary on U.S. politics and his academic teaching at the University of Toronto.

Frequently asked questions

Who is George Will?
George Will is an American journalist, columnist, author, and political commentator best known for conservative commentary and his long-running column for The Washington Post.
What is George Will known for?
He is known for political commentary, especially on American conservatism, and for writing influential newspaper columns.
What award did George Will win?
He won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1977.
Where was George Will born?
He was born in Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
What is George Will’s political orientation?
He is generally described as conservative, and some sources describe him more specifically as libertarian conservative.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Will
    Supports: Birth date, occupation, regular Washington Post columns, and Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1977.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Will
    Supports: Biography, birthplace, American journalist/pundit description, and political conservatism.
  3. Freedom From Religion Foundation — https://ffrf.org/publications/day/george-will/
    Supports: Education, teaching positions, early career, Washington Post column, Newsweek role, and Pulitzer Prize.
  4. ABC News — https://abcnews.go.com/News/george-abc-news-official-biography/story?id=16103442
    Supports: ABC News commentator role, syndicated column, education, teaching history, and publications.
  5. Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1270178
    Supports: Identification as an American newspaper columnist, journalist, and author.