*GROTE, GEORGE, was born in 1794, at Clay-Hill, near Becken ham, in the county of Kent. His grandfather, descended from German ancestors, founded, in partnership with Mr. George Prescott, the London banking establishment of Prescott, Grote, and Co. Mr. Grote was educated at the Charter House School, London, and in 1809 com menced his course of instruction as a banker by being employed as a clerk in his father's house of business. All his leisure time however, not only in the evening, but in the hours of early morning, was assiduously devoted to literature and to the study of economic science with Mr. Mill, and other gentlemen of the liberal class of politicians, with whom he had formed an acquaintance. In 1821 he published anonymously a pamphlet on parliamentary reform, in reply to an article by Sir James Mackintosh in the 'Edinburgh Review ; and he afterwards wrote a small work on the 'Essentials of Parlia mentary Reform.' He has also written some articles in the ' West minster Review.' Ho began to collect materials for his great work, the History of Greece,' in 1823, but the political excitement of the years 1830 and 1831 drew him into public life; and for nine or ten years his literary labours were greatly interrupted. In 1832 he was elected a member of parliament for the city of London, and was re-elected till 1841, when ho resigned hie seat in order to devote his time to the completion of his historical work.
On the 25th of April 1833, Mr. Grote made a motion in the House of Commons, "that it is expedient that in future elections of to serve in parliament, the votes bo taken in the way of ballot." The motion was negatived by 211 to 100. He took the lead in support of the principle of the ballot, and defended it by very powerful reasoning on a motion which he made in the House of Commons every session as long as he continned to bo a member. His motion made on the 18th of June 1839 was negatived by 333 to 216. Mr. Grote'e political principles were very decidedly liberal, and when he spoke, which he did occasionally at considerable length, he was always listened to with the greatest attention.
Mr. Grote's History of Greece' commences with the earliest period of heroio legends. Vols. I. and II. were published early in 1846. Vol. XII. (with portrait, maps, and index), published in 1856, completes the work, and terminates with the death of Alexander the Great, D.C. 323, which, in Mr. Grote's view, is the close of Grecian history properly so termed. For extent of research, critical skill, novelty and independence of thought, comprehensiveness of view, and soundness of judgment, it is one of the most important works in English historical literatnre. That, the work is equally appreciated out of England is shown by its having been translated into German.