St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-18
BANCROFT is DEAD.
The Venerable Historian
Passes Away at His Wash
linton Home.
Close Of a Long Life Devoted
to the Best of Better Lit
epature.
He Will Be Laid to Rest Be-
side His Wife at WorceS-
ter, Mass.
The Eminent Authors Life
Work Was Completed Two
Years Since.


Ing by the news that George Bancroft,
the venerable historian, was dead. 1t
had been realized that Mr.. Bancroft
could hardly survive much longer, the
increasing infirmitIes incident TO his
extremely old age. but he had been in
cheerful spirits and apparently better
health this year since his return from
Newport than for feveral seasons past,
so that his death was sudden and UNI
eXepcted to all save few Intimate
friends who knew of the attack of ILL
ness which carried him off. Death
occurred at $40 o'clock this after
noon. The end was quiet and
peaceful and came after a period
of Inconsistencies lasting about
twenty-four hours. Mr.. Bancroft for
some years past had been in the habit
of spending about five months in New
port and passing the winter and colder
season of the year in Washington. Two
years ago he had severe attack of sick
ness which kept him in bed for four or
five weeks, and, as he was then IN his
eighty-ninth year,
Grave ApprehensiOns
however, though he never after that
was as strong as he had formerly been.
He came to this city from Newport last
October feeling better than for some
time past. He was in fine health and
spirits and chad an excellent appetite
and good faculty for sleep
until last week, when ne caught
slight cold. He had always
lived carefully but gener OuSly, and had
said repeatedly within the last six weeks
that he had never slept better nor had
better appetite. Notwithstanding his
cold he continued to seek outdoor eXer-
ciSeS every day until Thursday, when
he took to his bed as matter of precau-
ton. His whole illness was less than
three days. He failed rapidly yesterday
and became unconscious in the after
noon, in which state he remained until
the end. His son, John G. Bancroft.
who, with his wife. kept house for the
historian. was with him IN his last mo-
ments. The attending physician, DR..
Wales, had left the house short time
before, as Mr.. Bancroft looked then as
If he would live through the night.
The Funeral.
1t was decided this evening to hold
funeral service at IL o'clock next Tues
day morning in st. Johns Episcopal
church. The Interment will take places
at Worcester, Mass, where Mr.. Ban
crOft's wife is buried. MIR. Bancroft
was always fond of outdoor exercise. to
which, in large measure, he attributed
his good health and prolonged life, and
after he discontinued horseback riding
he regularly walked about the city, at
tended by an old servant. He lived
here in a large, old-fashioned double
house on H street in fash
ionable neighbOrhood, and his gar
den here, as at Newport, was filled
with choice roses, in which flower he
delighted He regarded his life work
as finished two years ago, and of late
had done no literary work. During the
last decaae he had revised his great
work, 1.-THE History of the United
States" going over it in severely crit
zeal style, and eliminating the flowers
of rhetoric in the earlier work. His last
production was history of the forma-
ton of the constitution. He undertook
to write history of President Folks
administration, in whose cabinet The
served as secretary of the navy, but was
compelled to abandon it.
George Bancroft was the son of Rev. Baron
Bancroft. and was born in Worcester, Mass,
j,
studies at Exeter n. H., and in 1913 entered
Harvard college, where he gave special at
tention to metaphysics and morals, and &C
Quireo strong prediction for the writings
of Plato. He graduated in 1917, and almost
Immediately started for the University of
Germany. In Gottingen, where he remained
two years. he studied under the most learned
professors of the time. including Elchhorn,
Heeren and Blumenbach. He selected his
tory as his special branch Of study. Having
otC 6pprpl
doctor of philosophy, he repaired to Berlin,
where he continued his studies. In the
spring of 1921 he began journey through
Germany and other parts of Europe, becom-
ing acquainted with Goethe, Schlosser, Con-
slant, Manzoni and Niebuhr. In 1922 he re-
turned to America and accepted for one year
the Office of tutor of Greek in Harvard co
lege. In 1923 he established the Round Hill
school at Northampton. In 1875 he delivered
at Northampton an Grafton, in which he
avowed his principles to pc for universal
suffrage and uncomprOmislng Democracy.
In 1880 he was, without his knowledge, elect
ed to the Massachusetts legislature, but re-
fused to take his seat. In 1884 appeared the
first volume of his History of the United
States" In 1888 he completed the second
volume of his history, and was made collector
of the port Of Boston by President Van
Buren,. In 1910 the third volume of his his
tory was published. In 1874 he was NOM
mated for governor of Massachusetts
by the Democrats, but defeated by
a small majority. In 1913 Mr. Bancroft
became President Folks secretary of the
navy, establishing the naval academy at An
napolis. While secretary of the navy Mr..
Bancroft gave the order to take possession
of California. In 1916 he exchanged his po-
sitiUn in the navy for the Office of minister
plenipotentiary to Great Britain. In 1S49 the
University of oxford made him doctor of
civil law. and he had before been chosen
correspondent of the royal academy of Ber-
lin. He returned to New York, and
the fourth and fifth volumes of his history
were published in 1852, the sixth in 1854,
the seventh in 1858 and the eighth soon after,
the ninth being delayed until 1866. On May
il, 1867 he was appointed minister to Prus
STA, and in 1871 to the German empire. Mr..
Bancrofts History of the United States
occupies very prominent place not only in
the historical literature of his own country,
but in that of the world, since it is every
where recognized authority concerning the
period which it covers. 1t has been trans
lated into various languages.