Grote, George
, the distinguished historian of Greece, was born at Clay Hill in Kent, England, November
17th, 1794. Educated at the Charterhouse, he did not enter one of the universities, but
connected himself with a banking-house, in which he remained for thirty-two years, devoting
his leisure to literary and political pursuits. In 1823 he began the special studies necessary
for an exact and critical knowledge of Greek history, and in 1846 put forth the first two
volumes of the great
History of Greece, the twelfth and last volume of which
appeared in 1856
(4th ed. London, 1872). It begins with the earliest period and
carries on the narrative to the end of the generation contemporaneous with Alexander the
Great. It is notable for its accurate geographical details, for the spirit and vigour of its
passages descriptive of martial exploits, and, above all, for its obvious purpose of showing
the elevating and inspiring influence of freedom upon human activity. In this last respect the
history of Grote has been called a Liberal history of Greece, as that of Bishop Thirlwall is
undeniably a Tory history. Each chapter is, in a way, a monograph in itself, and the work as a
whole is one of the greatest masterpieces of historical research that have ever been put
forth. It was followed by
Plato and the Other Companions of Socrates, 3 vols.
(London, 1865); and
Aristotle, edited by Bain and Robertson, 2
vols.
(London, 1872), forming a sort of supplement to the
History.
In 1862 Grote was elected Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, and in 1868 President
of the Council of University College. In 1869 a peerage was offered him by Mr. Gladstone, but
was declined. Grote died June 18th, 1871, and was buried near Gibbon in Westminster Abbey. His
life was written by his wife
(1873); and a good critical review of his work as an
historian by Professor Bain in the remarks prefixed to the edition of Grote's minor works
(1873).
