The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-18
Sketch of His Life.

Sketch of His Life.
The death of the Historian Bancroft the
nonogenariau statesman, publicist.and litter
ateur, must be regarded as loss to the great
world of letters If not public calamity TO Amer
ica. His was life of toll and patient labor in
behalf of the future in rearing a great literary
monument OF the past-its history.
George Bancroft was born at Worcester,
Mass, October 3, 1S0o ana was graduated at
Harvard College in 1917. His school life at
Worcester was hardly OF any importance as his
progress there was anything but satisfactory.
His fathers farm was two miles from town In an
opposite direction from the school, Nelson's,
which nearly three miles tile other way.
When he was IL years OF age, however, he went
10 Exeter to read his Caesar and Cicero and 10 be
taught mathematics by The famous DIR. Abbott.
Hidreth, the historians father, was also one of
his teachers there.
HE GOES TO EUROPE.
His college course was but the beginning of his
education. He sailed TO Europe aud pursued a
great variety OF studies for five years under the
most eminent professors at GOltingeu, Berlin,
Heidelberg, Paris and In several Italian cities,
forming acquaintaHce5 also with many of the
most famous scholars and savants.
He went 10 Germany 10 prosecute a compre-
henstve range OF studies. 1t included nothing
short OF the Whole range of ancient and modern
literature, both sacred aud profaIe. He remained
al Gottingen Two years; he studied German lit
erature undr Benecke; French aud Italian un-
der Artapd aad Bunsen; the Oriental languages
under Elehhorn; natural history under Blumen-
bach; and with Dissen, who loved Plato, took
complete course in Greek philosophy. In 1920
he received his degree of Bachelor OF Philosophy
from the University Of Gotlingen.
MINGLES WITH HISTORIANS.
At Heidelberg he spent days with the historian
Schlosser and listened to HegePs lectures at
Berlin.
In Italy lie made friend OF ManzonI and Che
walter Bupsen was his companion at Rene. He
met Goethe ut J-na during his studies in Ger
many, aud renewed the acquaintance at Weimar.
"a In an interview with Lord Byron few years
IuA frla nf n N . no
mentioned G9the'S criticisms and particularly
that relating 10 The imitation of Gethe's Faust
unacquanted with the German language, and
when lie wrote Manfred lie knew almost moth
ing OF Faust This occurred during their meet
ing In May, 1922"
HE BECOMES A TEACHER.
On his return from the Continent he was tutor
al Harvard for year, aud founded ana was for
short lime aiterwaTd connected with the eele-
brated Round Hill classical school at Northamp-
ton. lie was an avowed advocate OF universal
suffrage and OF democratic principle but lie de-
cllned at that time to enter public life as he had
formed the design of writing history OF the
United States. The first volume OF the history
appeared In 1884 The second volume was
for three years.
ENTERING POLITICAL LIFE.
In 1888 lie was appointed Collector OF the
Port of Boston, but neither his official duties
nor his party services drew his attention from
historical composition. and his third volume was
published in 1910. He was an unsuccessful
candidate Tor Governor oil MassdchusettS III
! 1884, and the following year was appointed see
retary OF the Navy by President Polk He made
| the order directing the navy TO take possession
OF California. Ii was due to bis Efforts that the
| naval academy at Annapolis was established
| In 1876 he wasappointed Minister TO England,
and remaned abroad until 1S49, when lie was
| made a Doctor of Common Laws at Oxford.
| Then ha returned and resumed his literary
| work. The fourth and NTH volumes were pub.
lisbed I'm 1852 the sixth In 1864, the seventh In
1858, the eighth in 1860 the ninth In 1866, and
| the tenth IN 1880. In 1857 he was appointed
| Minister 10 Bern
While he was Minister to England, Bancroft
did not In The turmoil OF fashion aud politics for
get his literary abors, and added largely to his
collection OF manuscripts Dy liberaily excerpting
from the English aud French archives. He thus
accumulated his historical evidence on both
sides OF the great American issues with which
he was called upon to deal.
HIS MISSION TO GERMANY.
recent writer iu one of Americas foremost
magazines says Of Bancrofrs mission TO Ger
many: "His quiet but elegantly appointed house