Historian and diplomatist; born in
Dorchester, Mass., April 15, 1814; graduated at Harvard University in 1831, and afterwards spent a year at the universities of
Gottingen and
Berlin; travelled in
Italy, and, returning, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1836.
He wrote two historical novels—
Master's hope (1839) and
Merry Mount (1849). In 1840 he was secretary to the
American legation in
Russia; in 1861-67 minister to
Austria; and in 1869-70 minister to
Great Britain.
He became interested in the history of
Holland, and embarked for
Europe in 1851 to gather materials for his great work,
The history of the rise of the Dutch republic, which was published in
London and New York in 1856.
In 1861 he published
The United Netherlands (2 volumes, enlarged to 4 volumes in 1867). This work was followed, in 1874, by
The life and death of John of Barneveld, advocate of Holland, with a view of the
[
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Primary causes of the thirty years War On his recall from
London he revisited
Holland in pursuit of historical studies He afterwards went to
England, where he died near
Dorchester, May 29, 1877.
