FREEMAN, Edward Augustus, English historian: b. Harborne, near Birmingham, 1823; d. Alicante, Spain, 16 March 1892. He was educated at Trinity College, Oxford, where he obtained a scholarship in 1841, and after his marriage in 1847 he retired to a small estate at Somerleaze, in Somerset, where he devoted himself to literature. His first publication (1849) was a 'History of Architecture,' a sub ject in which he maintained interest throughout his life. This work was more especially devoted to Gothic architecture. His architectural re searches helped to turn his attention to history, but his earliest historical works were the prod uct of his interest in contemporary burning questions. His (History and Conquests of the Saracens' (1856) was partly due to the Crimean War ; and the American Civil War brought forth his of Federal Government' (1863), which, however, remained a fragment in one volume. Between 1867 and 1879 appeared his magnum opus, the (History of the Norman Conquest of England,' in six volumes, followed in 1882 by two supplementary volumes dealing with 'The Reign of William Rufus and the Accession of Henry I.' In 1884 he was ap pointed regius professor of modern history at Oxford, and this post he occupied till his death. His last great work was a (History of Sicily,' which he left unfinished, though three volumes of the work were published. He died in Spain, where he was traveling for the purposes of recreation and research. Other works of his
beside those mentioned were (Essay•on Window Tracery); Architecture of Landaff Ca thedral) ; 'History of Wells Cathedral' (1870) ; 'Old English History for Children' (1869) ; 'Growth of the English Constitution' (1872) ; 'Historical Essays' (three series, 1871-79) ; 'The Ottoman Power in Europe' (1877) ; 'His torical Geography of Europe' (1881) ; 'Subject and Neighbor Lands of Venice' (1881) ; tures to American Audiences' (1882) ; 'English Towns and Districts' (1883) ; Impres sions of the United States) (1883) ; (Exeter' (1887) ; 'Methods of Historical Study> (1886) ; 'The Chief Periods of European History' (1887) ; 'William the Conqueror' (1888) ; 'Studies of Travel' (edited by Miss F. Freeman, 3 vols., 1893, 1897). He was a man of strong partisan feeling, which sometimes interfered with a judicial weighing of evidence. But he took great pains to verify his facts, indeed was devoted to truth, and had a wide and deep knowledge of history. The charge of prolixity made against him is not without foundation, but when in the mood he displayed remarkable powers of compression. He had a marked pref erence Tor the use of words of purely English origin. In spite of his pugnacity and the obstinacy with which he maintained his side in a controversy he was a man of generous and kindly nature. Consult 'Life and Letters,' by Stephens (1895).