MOTLEY, John Lothrop, American historian: b. Dorchester, Mass., 15 April 1814; d. near Dorchester, England, 29 May 1877. His education was obtained at Harvard, from which he was graduated in 1831, and at the universi ties of Berlin and Gottingen, between which he divided two years (1832-33). His first pub lished writings were contributions to Willis' American Monthly Magazine and "verses in the corner of a paper called the Anti-Masonic Mir His first book, the two-volume, semi autobiographical 'Morton's Hope' (1839), met with a generally unsatisfactory reception; and, according to Holmes, the North American Re view "dropped a small-print extinguisher upon it? He went to Saint Petersburg in the autumn of 1841 as secretary to the American legation, but after a brief residence returned (1842). His first important attempt in history was a 50-page article, nominally a review but really a narrative, on Peter the Great, in the North American for October 1845 (in hook form in the library). His further literary work during this period includes notable essays on Balzac (July 1847) and the 'Policy of the Puritans> (October 1849) in the North American; and a second effort of fiction, 'Merry Mount' (1849), certainly an advance on the first, and rewarded by a nearly 20-page notice in the North American, hut clearly not a success. But so early as 1846 he had been gathering material for a history of Holland. Having learned that Prescott, then at the height of his reputation, was busy upon the 'History of Philip IL> Motley had a conference with Prescott, who urged him to continue, even though the two works would unavoidably cover the same ground. For the year 1849 he was a member of the Massachusetts house of repre sentatives; and he often humorously referred to his experience when an extensive and, as he fancied, impregnable report prepared by him as chairman of the committee on education was triumphantly demolished by George S. Bout well (q.v.), then a young representative from Groton. From 1851 until 1856, the year of the appearance of the 'Rise of the Dutch Republic.,) he was in Europe, continuing his investigations at Berlin, Dresden, The Hague and Brussels. When, after 10 years' labor, the great work was at last ready for the press, it had to be pub lished'at the author's expense. It was received with almost universal praise by public and critics — Fronde writing, °one of the earliest as well as one of the most important recogni tions"— and definitely established Motley's fame. It was widely translated, Guizot super-.
intending the French version and writing the introduction. Motley was in America in 1856 58, but then returned to Europe. In 1861 he wrote two letters, then of great timeliness and importance, to the London Times, setting forth to the English nation the structure of the United States government, the causes of the Civil War and the results involved. From 1861 until his resignation in 1867 he was United States Minister to Austria, and his official dispatches in this post were highly praised by John Jay, his successor. He re turned to the United States in 1868, in 1869 was appointed Minister to England by Grant, but in 1870 was suddenly recalled. This action by the government was never explained with any degree of satisfaction. The correspondence between Motley and Fish, Secretary of State, is to be found in a publication of the State De partment (1871). It would appear that Holmes' verdict that Motley was greatly wronged is the correct one. Sumner said: "How little Mr. Motley merited anything but respect and courtesy from the secretary is attested by all who know his eminent position in LOndon and the service he rendeFed to his country." Motley continued writing until 1873, and in 1875 paid a visit to the United States. His other two famous works are the 'History of the United Netherlands, from the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Years' Truce, 1609' (1860) and 'The Life and Death of John of Barneveld, Advocate of Holland: with a View of the Primary Causes of the Thirty Years' War' (1874). They confirmed his rank as a great historian; some of the best Dutch critics thought the his chief publication. His style is precise and brilliant; his narratives are full of movement, his portraitures vivid. Consult Holmes, O. W., 'John Lothrop Mot ley: A Memoir' (Boston 1898) ; Bassett, T. S., 'The Middle Group of American Historians' (New York 1916); Curtis, G. W. (ed.), 'Cor respondence of John Lothrop Motley' (New York 1889); Mrs. S. St. J. Mildmay (Motley's daughter), 'John Lothop Motley and his Fam ily: Further Letters and Records' (New York 1910).