John Lothrop Motley (1814–77) was an American historian and diplomat known for his works on the Dutch Republic and his service as U.S. Minister to Austria and the United Kingdom. His writings shaped 19th-century perspectives on the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule.
Born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, Motley studied at Harvard University, graduating in 1831. He continued his education in Germany, where he befriended Otto von Bismarck. After returning to the U.S., he pursued diplomacy and historical writing.
His most famous work, The Rise of the Dutch Republic (1856,) was a three-volume history that gained international acclaim. He followed with History of the United Netherlands (1860–67,) a four-volume study covering 1584 to 1609. His final major work, The Life and Death of John of Barneveld (1874,) examined Dutch political struggles.
Motley served as U.S. Minister to Austria (1861–67) under Abraham Lincoln, helping prevent European intervention in the Civil War. Later, he was appointed Minister to the United Kingdom (1869–70) under Ulysses S. Grant, though his tenure ended abruptly due to political disagreements.
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To the Calvinists, more than to any other class of men, the political liberties of Holland, England, and America are due.
—John Lothrop Motley
Deeds, not stones, are the true monuments of the great.
—John Lothrop Motley
Topics: Legacy
Give us the luxuries of life, and we will dispense with its necessaries.
—John Lothrop Motley
Topics: Luxury, Wealth
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