BUCKLE, Henry Thomas, English histor ian: b. Lee, Kent, 24 Nov. 1821; d. Damascus, 29 May 1862. He was the son of a wealthy merchant and received his education partly at home and partly at Dr. Halloway's school, Gordon House, Kentish Town. His delicate health prevented his remaining long at school, but his love of learning and indefatigable indus try as a student supplied any deficiencies in his training, and he was to a great extent self educated. He read in 19 languages and could converse fluently in seven. He was brought up on orthodox lines but early developed free thought and radical principles. At an early age he entered his father's counting-house, but he displayed no aptitude for business; and when, at the age of 18, his father's death left him an ample fortune, he devoted himself en tirely to study. The only thing he allowed to distract him from his more serious pursuits was his favorite game of chess, in which he attained such excellence as to be recognized as one of the first English masters of the game; but even this he gave up when he found it en croached too much on his time. He had formed a plan, to which he dedicated his life, of writ ing the of Civilization in England' in conformity with certain philosophical prin ciples and with an exhaustive treatment in re gard to details which he deemed indispensable to historical accuracy, which made the work he had 'undertaken one of almost incalculable magnitude. For 14 years he toiled incessantly
at his manuscript, but he only succeeded in finishing two volumes. The first, published in 1858, stated with copious illustrations the plan of the work; the second, issued in 1861, con tained a digression on the histories of Scotland and Spain, intended further to illustrate his design and demonstrate the principles on which it was based. These works gave rise to much controversy, but it has been generally agreed that they exhibit great boldness and originality of design, with profound if not accurate scholar ship, and also with a good deal of what was the object of the historian's strongest aversion in others, dogmatism. Certain it is that his work does not now stand in the high repute it did in the years immediately succeeding pub lication. His death occurred when he was on a journey undertaken for the restoration of his health. (See HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION IN ENG LAND). Consult Huth, A. H.,