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Mark Steven Kirk was a Senator from Illinois. Born in Champaign, IL, in 1959, he earned his B.A. from Cornell University in 1981, his M.S. from the London School of Economics in 1982, and his J.D. from Georgetown University in 1992. He served in the United States Naval Reserves and was a staff member for United States Representative John Porter of Illinois from 1984-1990. He was special assistant, United States Department of State, from 1992-1993, and a staff member for the United States House of Representatives International Relations Committee in 1995. He was elected to the 107th and to the four succeeding Congresses and served from January 3, 2001, until his resignation on November 29, 2010. In 2010, he was elected to the United States Senate in the special election for the seat previously held by Senator Roland Burris, and at the same time elected in the general election for the six-year term ending January 3, 2017.