James T. Kirk
James Tiberius Kirk was born aboard the Einstein class U.S.S. Kelvin NCC-0514,[1] to Lieutenant Commander George Kirk and Lieutenant Winona Kirk.[2] Named for both his maternal grandfather, James Davis,[1] and his paternal grandfather, Tiberius Kirk.[2] Kirk was raised with his brother in Iowa,[3] though he also accompanied his parents to other planets, such as Tarsus IV, where he was one of only nine eyewitnesses to survive the massacre of half the colony's population by Governor Kodos the Executioner in 2247, and he would never forget what he saw.[4]
Kirk entered Starfleet Academy in 2250, at the age of 17, with the help of a man named Mallory. He was a brilliant and dedicated cadet, though some people, including an upperclassman named Finnegan, thought he was too serious and bookish.[5] Kirk was particularly impressed by one of his instructors, a history professor named John Gill, whom he considered one of the kindest and gentlest men he had ever met.[6] Kirk proved himself to be more than just an academic when he was the first cadet to beat the Kobayashi Maru scenario, a test designed to confront aspiring starship captains with a no-win situation. Refusing to accept that there was such a thing, Kirk broke into the Academy’s computer and reprogrammed the scenario so that he could achieve all his goals. Far from being criticized for his behavior, he was commended for original thinking.[7]
Assigned to the U.S.S. Republic NCC-1371 for his cadet cruise in 2254, Kirk befriended one of his instructors, Lieutenant Ben Finney. The two were close enough that Finney named his daughter Jamie in his honor, but that friendship didn't prevent Kirk from doing his duty. One day, Kirk relieved Finney on watch and discovered that he had left a circuit to the ship’s atomic matter piles open, seriously endangering the ship and the lives of everyone aboard. Kirk closed the circuit and logged the incident. As a result, Finney was reprimanded and moved to the bottom of the promotions list. He failed to accept responsibility for the incident and blamed Kirk, resulting in more than a decade of enmity from the older man.[8] While assigned to the Republic, Kirk was part of a mission to the planet Axanar, where one of his heroes, Captain Kelvar Garth, had won a famous victory. Kirk was awarded the Palm Leaf of Axanar for his part in the Republic's mission.[9]
After his tour on the Republic ended, Kirk returned to the Academy, where he became a student tutor. The class he taught earned quite a reputation among other cadets, who knew that in Kirk’s class it was "think or sink." Kirk became friends with one of his students, Gary Mitchell, whom Kirk would later request on his first command.[10] Kirk left a lasting impression on many of his other contemporaries, including R.M. Merrick, who was expelled after failing a psychosimulator test. Years later, Merrick still remembered Kirk as an example of all that was best about Starfleet officers.[11] During his time at Starfleet Academy, Kirk had at least three serious relationships: one with a blonde lab technician,[10] one with Janice Lester, which lasted a year,[12] and one with a beautiful young woman named Ruth.[5]
Upon his graduation in 2254, Kirk was promoted to Lieutenant, and his first posting was the U.S.S. Farragut NCC-1647 under Captain Garrovick.[13] The young Lieutenant Kirk first experienced command when he led a planetary survey party; during this mission he befriended the leader of the local hill people, a man called Tyree.[14] In 2257, Kirk was involved in a serious incident that left him deeply troubled for many years. Near Tycho IV, the Farragut encountered a mysterious and dangerous gaseous entity. Kirk hesitated for a brief moment before firing the ship’s phasers and, when the creature attacked, 200 people, including Captain Garrovick, were killed. Although Starfleet found nothing wrong with his actions, Kirk blamed himself for the disaster.[13]
Commander Kirk served as the first officer aboard the U.S.S. Eagle NCC-956 under Captain Botwin, until his promotion to Captain in 2263 and his assignment as commanding officer of the Hermes class U.S.S. Sacagawea NCC-598. During his tenure as captain of the Sacagawea, he encountered a Klingon captain named Koloth for the first time.[15]
In 2265,[16] on Stardate 1278.4, Kirk assumed command of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 from Captain Christopher Pike,[17] becoming the third commanding officer of that vessel,[18] and began what would become an historic Five Year Mission.[10]
| 2250-2254 | Starfleet Academy |
| 2254 | Cadet Cruise, U.S.S. Republic NCC-1371 (Constitution class) |
| 2254-2257 | U.S.S. Farragut NCC-1647 (Constitution class) |
| 2258-2259 | U.S.S. Oxford |
| 2259-2263 | First Officer, U.S.S. Eagle NCC-956 |
| 2263-2265 | Captain, U.S.S. Sacagawea NCC-598 |
| 2265-2270 | Captain, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 |
| 2270-2273 | Chief of Starfleet Operations |
| 2273-2278 | Captain, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 |
| 2279-2280 | Retired |
| 2281-2285 | Commandant, Starfleet Academy |
| 2285 | Captain, U.S.S. Excelsior NX-2000 |
| 2286-2293 | Captain, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-A |
| 2293-2294 | Retired; Died during commissioning ceremonies aboard U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-B |
Notes and References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Goodman, David A. Federation: The First 150 Years. Titan Books, October 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Abrams, J.J. & Damon Lindelof (Producers). Star Trek. Directed by J.J. Abrams. Written by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman. Paramount Pictures. 8 May 2009.
- ↑ Bannett, Harve (Producer). Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Directed by Leonard Nimoy. Story by Leonard Nimoy and Harve Bennett. Screenplay by Steve Meerson & Peter Krikes and Harve Bennett & Nicholas Meyer. Paramount Pictures. 26 November 1986.
- ↑ Roddenberry, Gene (Executive Producer). "Miri." Star Trek, Season 1, Episode 8 (Production 12). Directed by Vincent McEveety. Written by Adrian Spies. Desilu Productions, 27 October 1966.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Roddenberry, Gene (Executive Producer). "Shore Leave." Star Trek, Season 1, Episode 15 (Production 17). Directed by Robert Sparr. Written by Theodore Sturgeon. Desilu Productions, 29 December 1966.
- ↑ Roddenberry, Gene (Executive Producer). "Patterns of Force." Star Trek, Season 2, Episode 23. Directed by Vincent McEveety. Written by John Meredyth Lucas. Desilu Productions, 16 February 1968.
- ↑ Salin, Robert (Producer). Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Directed by Nicholas Meyer. Story by Harve Bennett and Jack B. Sowards. Screenplay by Nicholas Meyer (Uncredited). Paramount Pictures. 4 June 1982.
- ↑ Roddenberry, Gene (Executive Producer). "The Galileo Seven." Star Trek, Season 1, Episode 16 (Production 14). Directed by Robert Gist. Story by Oliver Crawford Teleplay by Oliver Crawford & S. Bar-David. Desilu Productions, 5 January 1967.
- ↑ Roddenberry, Gene (Executive Producer) and Freiberger, Fred (Producer). "Whom Gods Destroy." Star Trek, Season 3, Episode 16. Directed by Herb Wallerstein. Story by Jerry Sohl & Lee Erwin. Teleplay by Lee Erwin. Paramount Pictures Corporation, 3 January 1969.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Roddenberry, Gene (Executive Producer). "The Cage". Star Trek, season 0, episode 0 (Production number 01). Directed by Robert Butler. Written by Gene Roddenberry. Released 1986. Desilu Productions. 1965.
- ↑ Roddenberry, Gene (Executive Producer). "Bread and Circuses." Star Trek, Season 2, Episode 14. Directed by Ralph Senensky. Written by Gene Roddenberry and Gene L. Coon. Desilu Productions, 15 March 1968.
- ↑ Roddenberry, Gene (Executive Producer/Story) and Freiberger, Fred (Producer). "Turnabout Intruder." Star Trek, Season 3, Episode 24. Directed by Herb Wallerstein. Teleplay by Arthur Singer. Paramount Pictures Corporation, 3 June 1969.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Roddenberry, Gene (Executive Producer). "Obsession." Star Trek, Season 2, Episode 18. Directed by Ralph Senensky. Written by Art Wallace. Desilu Productions, 15 December 1967.
- ↑ Roddenberry, Gene (Executive Producer/Teleplay). "A Private Little War." Star Trek, Season 2, Episode 16. Directed by Marc Daniels. Story by Jud Crucis. Desilu Productions, 2 February 1968.
- ↑ Bennett, Christopher L. (Author). The Captain's Oath. Star Trek. Novel. Gallery Books. May 2019.
- ↑ Berman, Rick & Biller, Kenneth (Executive Producers). "Q2." Star Trek: Voyager, Season 7, Episode 19. Directed by LeVar Burton. Story by Kenneth Biller. Teleplay by Robert Doherty. Paramount Pictures Corporation, 11 April 2001.
- ↑ Roddenberry, Gene (Executive Producer). "Court Martial." Star Trek, Season 1, Episode 20 (Production 15). Directed by Marc Daniels. Story by Don M. Mankiewicz. Teleplay by Don M. Mankiewicz and Steven W. Carabatsos (Teleplay). Desilu Productions, 2 February 1967.
- ↑ Scheimer, Lou & Norm Prescott (Producers). "How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth". Star Trek: The Animated Series, season 2, episode 5 (Production number 21). Directed by Bill Reed. Written by Russell Bates & David Wise. Filmation Associates. 5 October 1974.
