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James Tiberius Kirk, a fictional character in the Star Trek television series, was the captain of the starship Enterprise (NCC-1701 and NCC-1701-A). He was the leading character in the original series and the films based on it.
Fictional biography
Kirk was born in Riverside, Iowa on March 22, 2233. While a youth on Tarsus IV, he was one of only nine surviving witnesses to the massacre of 4000 colonists because of utilitarian extermination by Kodos the Executioner so that the colony could survive a devastating famine. George Samuel and Aurelan Kirk, Kirk's older brother and sister-in-law, died during the invasion of neural parasites on Deneva in 2267. Kirk's nephew, Peter Kirk, survived.
He had a distinguished career in Starfleet Academy, becoming the first person to defeat the Kobayashi Maru test that stymied cadets for many decades, even until the 2370s. Whereas any situation would be met by the simulator's overriding dictate that the cadet lose, Kirk won by rewriting the program to allow him to rescue Kobayashi Maru crew. His Starfleet serial number was SC 937-0176 CEC.
In his first assignment, he served as Ensign aboard the USS Republic, NCC-1371 in the year 2250. He was promoted to Lieutenant immediately after his graduation from Starfleet Academy in 2254, and served aboard the USS Farragut, NCC-1647 until being promoted to captain in 2263.
Eventually Kirk became the third captain of the USS Enterprise, NCC-1701. Kirk followed in the footsteps of Captain Robert April and Captain Christopher Pike and preceded a string of others that included Captain John Harriman, Captain Rachel Garrett, and Captain Jean-Luc Picard. He commanded the Enterprise's historic five year mission from 2264-2269.
He was promoted to Admiral and Chief of Starfleet Operations in 2269, but never enjoyed the position. He returned to commanding the Enterprise in 2272, and was later relieved to be demoted back to captain in 2286 after stealing the Enterprise and sabotaging the USS Excelsior in 2285.
With Carol Marcus, he had a son named David, who was killed by Klingons in 2285. He recorded in his log that he could never forgive them for the death of his son, which was used as evidence against him when he was accused of murdering Klingon Chancellor Gorkon in 2293.
In 2293 he was lost when the Enterprise B was damaged by the Nexus. However, he was actually still alive in another plane of existence, where he was rescued by Captain Picard, only to be killed on Veridian III in 2371.
His adventures and tactics are of legendary renown in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants.
Name
Kirk's middle initial was originally "R.". This appeared in the episode Where No Man Has Gone Before, which was Star Trek's second pilot episode and the first episode to feature Kirk. In that episode a tombstone for Kirk appeared, bearing the name "James R. Kirk" and birth and death stardates. This appears to have been promptly forgotten about. Kirk's middle initial became "T." for the rest of the original series and has remained thus ever since.
The full middle name "Tiberius" first appeared in the introduction to the novelisation of Star Trek: The Motion Picture. It is explained that Kirk's grandfather Samuel was fascinated by the Roman emperor Tiberius. The name finally appeared canonically in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, in a scene where Kirk is on trial.
Book continuity
Shortly after Star Trek: Generations, William Shatner and co-writers Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens wrote a series of novels taking place after the events in the movie, bringing Kirk back from the dead, much like mainstream comic books. While the novels are not mentioned in regular continuity, they are often read by fans who felt Kirk had died an "unheroic" death and deserved something more. Critics cite an overdone focus on Kirk as the glorified hero, often leaving Picard and others in downplayed roles.
Plot summary
- Star Trek: The Return - Shortly after the events in Star Trek: Generations, a Romulan ship transports the body of Captain Kirk from Veridian III. The Romulans, having a vendetta against Kirk, use an "ancient alien technology" to bring him back, turning Kirk into a puppet for the Romulans. Kirk faces off against several characters from Star Trek: the Next Generation before being subdued, and is treated by Spock and Dr. McCoy, who are still alive in the 24th century.
Meanwhile, Beverly Crusher and others from the Enterprise-D are assigned to a special Borg strike team, with a new ship designed for this purpose. Kirk meets with Picard once more, and goes on to destroy the Borg homeworld located in the Delta Quadrant, disabling the Collective (albeit temporarily). He is presumed dead in the final explosion, but is transported away at the last second.
- Star Trek: Avenger (needs plot summary)
- Star Trek: Odyssey - Collects The Ashes of Eden, The Return, and Avenger.
- Star Trek: Spectre - (needs plot summary)
- Star Trek: Dark Victory - (needs plot summary)
- Star Trek: Preserver - (needs plot summary)
- Star Trek: Captain's Peril - (needs plot summary)
- Star Trek: Captain's Blood - (needs plot summary)
See also: Mr. Spock
External link
- James T. Kirk at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek WikiWiki.