Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1891-01-23
AMERICAS HISTORIAN GONE.
Death of George Bancroft in
Washington.
Peaceful Ending OF "a Brilliant Scho-
Iastlc Career.

up hr. bancroft was ut1u.
His end was quiet aud peaceful, and the
first cause Of death was simply the weakness
of old age. His on Nas at the bedside when
the aged historian died.
George Bancroft was the son OF Rev.
Aaron Bancroft, ID. d.. a distinguished Uni
tartan divine OF Worcester, Mass who was
also the author of Life OF Washington"
published In 1861
Mr.. Bancroft was born at Worcester, Oct
3, 1900. His early education was received in
the public schools Of that city, and was care
fully supervised by his father.
lie displayed great industry and prceocity
in study and at the early age Of 10 years
was fitted to enter the famous Phillips Acad.
emv at Exeter, y. H., then and for many
successive wears under the direction OF Dr.
Benjamin Abbott, who had numbered
among his pupils Daniel Webster, Lewis
CasS, Jared Sparks aud the two EyerCtts.
The fine powers Of mind the cOurtly man
ners and the immensc personal magnetism
of Dr. Abbott, which are sttcstcd by num-
Der OF witnesses, doubtless had much TO do
with the subsequent cmincncc of SO many
of his pupils.
He entered Harvard College in 1919. when
oulv l3 years OF age. and graduated with
distinction IN the class OF lSl1. Being des
tined by his father for the clerical profes-
sion, he was sent to complete his studies
HDThI'l, anu DdSSt'l llt l"h Su'fftulUg wears
nt the celebrated University OF Gottingen,
then honorcd hy the great names of Eieh-
horn, Blumcnblch end Hceren
Each Of tacs' men made n distinctive i'm
preston upon the studies of Young Bancroft,
who pursued not merely the classical and
modern litCraturcS but oriental languages
biblical Interpretation. Greek and German
philosophy natural history and archaeology.
lie devoted an especial attention To history.
a. f..
and model. and enjoying his intimate per-
sonal friendship. He receive from Gottin-
gen the degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy in
1870, when, instead OF considering his edu-
cation compete, hc TCpairrl 10 the recently
e.tahlI.h d University Of Berlin In order TO
prosecute various other courses Of study.
Having been one OF the earliest
American students in Germany. he
hal now acquired the Just rcputa
ton Of being young man Of brilliant
promise, and the introduCtions given him at
Gottingen rendered il easy 10 make the per-
sonal Acquaintance of SchlelmaCher, SWingv,
Wilhelm Won Humboldt and other eminent
scholars. He had already visited SaXony
during n vacation. and had been so fortu-
nate as TO be presented to Goethe at Jena.
This event stimulated him tn make series
of political tranSatious from Goethe, Schiller
and other great German poets then living
iI 1 uNNlh NV 'hl'IultN NNl'l'ttl NHe
trative system as guile to knowledge
of comparative politics in the Anglo Teutonic
branch.
Early in ls2l he began sn extended 1ur
OF Europe. tarried some time at Heidelberg,
STUDYING under the direction Of the historian
SchlOS1cr, became acquainted at Paris with
Alexander Won Humboldt, BenjsmIn Con-
slant aud Victor Cousin, made tour Of 4
month through Switzerland on foot, aud
ayaa,l nit,bt tntpth. In TtaIv HhaHa ha Oh
Nleburh and Bunsen at Rome, Monzoni at
Milan and Lord Byron In Ncneta
On his return 10 America IN 1922. he de-
voted himself to the improvement OF clas-
steal training ana the preparation Of history
OF the United States. the first volume OF
which was Published in 1874. One year
later he removed to Springfield, Mass,
where he completed the second volume,
which appeared IN lSp. Al this point Mr..
Bancroft took long respite from active his
torical abors, and for 10 years was busy In
pOlitical affairs.
In January, lS}S, he had received from
President Van Burcn the appointment of
collector Of the port OF Boston, which he held
until 1871.
In 1874 he was the Democratic candidate
for Governor OF Massachusetts, and. though
not elected. received n larger vote than any
member OF his party for many years before
He was appointed by President Polk in
March, lS5, secretary OF the navy. aud held
that post above year, SignaliZing his nd
mnistralion by the foundation Of the naval
academy st Annapolis aud the astronomical
observatory at Washington.
In lS48 he was made envoy to great Brit
ain. and resided in Lonlon until 1919, giving
high satisfaction both TO his government and
to his cOuntrymen abroad. lie embraced
the opportunity To renew his acquaintance
with his oil friends In Germany and to be-
come well acquainted with the copions man
uscript materials in the public records OF
London for the history of the American rev.
olution. 4 great part Of vols. 1 and : was
written in London, though they did not ap-
pesr for several years latei.
In 1919 the honorary degree Of u. C.. l.
was conferred upon him by the University
nfOXford. Mr.. Bancroft returned 10 the
United States In that year and fixed his resi-
dencc at New York. dcvoting himself with
renewed ardor to his history, OF which more
volumes appeared in 1852, 1858 and 1854,
bringing it down to the verge OF the revolu-
ton IN l7I4.
In 1s5S u revised edition of the first two
volumes was issued, aud in the same year
vol. I, the FIRST Of the "Amercan Revoli-
lion," appeared Vol. 8 was published in
1890.
Mr. Bancroft now took fresh recess OF
several years. comprising the whole period
Of the civil war and the earlier efforts at re-
construction. In February. 1886, he deliver
ed before Congress the official commcmora-
tive oration upon the life and career OF
7 eSident Lincoln. He was appointed In
1867 minister plenipnteutiary to Prussia, a
title whi h was exchanged for that Of minis
ter to the North German Confederation in
1858, and envoy to the Gcman empire In
ISL
The most important act Of Mr.. Bancrofts
diplomatic career IN Germany was the sigma
ture OF the celebrated treaties with the North
German Confederation and various smaller
states upon the rights and PRIVILEGES Of
naturallZed German citizens OF the United
States measures whi h called forth widely
differing expressions uf opinion.
In 1870 the friends OF Mr.. Bancroft cele.
brated at Berlin the 50th anniversary of his
graduation at the University OF Gottingcn.
In 1874 he resigned his diplomatic post,
returned to the United States for the last
time, and became resident of Washington,
where he devoted himself to historical la
horS. Vol. Y, completing the revolutionary
period, appeared in that year. The vener-
able author then devoted II mouths to
careful revision and condensation OF the
whole work, which was ssuei in 1876 In six
volumes, as the "Centenary Edition."
Since that date Mr.. Bancroft devoted bis
time to the history of the government OF the
United States from 1888 to 1850, task
which was completed In 1880.
A WASHINGTON writer gives this pen picture
OF Mr. Baucrofts personal appearance:
"a venerable man, Of medium heinht, sleu-
der figure. erect bearing, with lofty brow
thinned, but not stripped, Of its silyery
locks; full, snowy heard adding to bis pa
triarchal appearance; blush gray eyes.
which neither use nor time has deprived of