Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-01-19
A BUSY AND USEFUL LIFE.
Distinguished Both In Literature and
Officiai Services

George Bancroft was born at Worcester
Mass, Oct. 3, 1900 He was one of numer
Gus family, was educated at Exeter. y H,
under DR. Abbott, who saw that he had
the stamina of distinguished man. In
1918 he entered Harvard college, and being
graduated with high honors in 1877, went
the following year to Germany to pursue
his studies, receiving his degree as doctor
OF philosophy at Gottingen in 1890 Mr.
Bancroft later visited Berlin and made
an extensive tour in Germany, Switzer-
land. Italy, and England, enjoying per-
soDal acquaintance with many OF the most
distinguished men of the period in those
countries. He returned to America in
1872, and was for year tutor of Greek at
Harvard college. He had been designed
for the ministry, and preached some ser
mons, but abandoned that profession for
the pursuit of letters.
HIS Most Enduring Monument.
Mr. Bancroft's most enduring fame will
rest upon his History of the United States
from the discovery of the American con
tinent, of which the first volume appeared
in 1884 Mr.. Bancroft had early associated
himself with the Democratic party, and
was in the lecture room and on the stump
a frequent and earnest advocate OF its
principles In Jsnary, 1898. he was APP
pointed by President Van Buren, collector
of the port OF Boston, an office which he
held until the accession of Harrison in
lS4l, discharging the duties with marked
energy and fidelity. In ls44 he was the
Democratic candidate for governor of
Massachusetts,, but was not elected. In
March of the following year he WIS called
by President Polk to seat in his cabinet
a. oft ha rr-kg ,L
he held until Sept ls4s.
Establishes the Naval school.
His brief tenure of the navy department
was signalized by several needed reforms.
and especially by two Important additions
to its usefulness-the naval school at An
napolis and the astronomical observatory
at Washington City. Mr. Bancroft re-
signed his seat in the cabinet to accept
she appointment OF minister plenipoten
&ary to Great Britain, where he remained
until the summer of l549 His residence
in London, apart from the distinguished
post he occupied as It's country's rapre
sentative, derived yet further luster from
the intimate association into which he
was called with the eminent men of LET
tiers and statesmen OF the day. OF sncb
were Macauley, Milman, Grote, Roger.
Dickens, Whewell, Peel, and Brougham.
in England; and, in France. Guizot
Migne, Lamartine, De Tocqueville and
Others
Two Celebrated Orations
Upon his return home be made New
York his residence, and at the obseouies
held there upon the passage of the remains
of President Lincoln through that CITY
after the assassination in April, 1884, Mr.
Bancroft, by request of the municipal
government, delivered the eulopy. In
February following, by invitation of con
gress and In the presence of that body and
the assembled officers of the government
he pronounced an grafton upon the life
and services of Abraham Lincoln in the
house OF representatives at Washington
City. In the summer of 1867 Mr. Bancroft !,
received the appointment of minister MEN,
lpotentiary at Berlin. The kingdom of
Prussia at this time as a result of the
civil war OF the previous year with Austria
had formed with the lesser states of north
Germany the North German Confedera-
ton, and TO 1t the new envoy was also ar
credited.
Success as a Diplomatic.
Mr.. Bancroft at once applied himself tn
the settlement of an international oues.
ton which for three-quarters of a century
bstween the United States ard GERMANY
"a well as other European powers. On
Feb p 1858, six months after his arrival
at Berlin, treaty was concluded by him
with the North German Confederation
mutually recognizing the right OF expat.
ration and naturalization. Treaties tn
ike effect were during the ensuing sum.
mer concluded by Mr.. Bancroft with the
remaining (then separately powers of Ger.
many.
Closing Years OF His Care.r
He came home in 1874, and since then
had lived in this city. In the above year he
published the tenth volume of bis History
of the United States. In the Succeeding
years Mr.. Bancroft devoted himself Who'll.
ly, in continuation of his grtat work, to
the preparation of the history of the form
alton of the constitution, which appeared
in two volumes in the springto of 1SS2. Mr..
Bancroft's hours of relaxation had been
for many years devoted to the enthusiastic
culture of the rose, of which his collection
both at Washington City and at Newport
surpasses probably in number or varieties
and perfection of specimens any other
private collection in the country.