GB 0103 MS ADD 134 - Grote Letters

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0103 MS ADD 134

Title

Grote Letters

Date(s)

  • 1852-1870 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

1 folder

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

George Grote was born in Kent in November 1794, the eldest of eleven children. His father was a banker. At school George had a genuine love of learning which survived the plunge into business at the bank that his father imposed on him at the age of sixteen. He pursued his interest in classical reading, took up German and philosophy, and extended his view of political economy. He was also musical. From 1822, Grote was committed to the project of writing a history of Greece. From 1826 to 1830 he was one of the promoters of the new University College London. Grote became interested in political reform when he visited Paris in 1830. He became known as a man of business and this helped him when he entered politics. He sat through three parliaments till 1841, when he refused to be nominated again. He wished to return to studying and finish his History of Greece which was completed in 1856 and consisted of twelve volumes. In 1843 he left the bank permanently. Grote published other writings during his lifetime, mainly about politics and philosophy. In 1849 he was re-elected to the University College London Council and in 1868 he became president of the University. During his life Grote received many honours: D.D.L. of Oxford in 1853; LL.D. of Cambridge in 1861; fellow of the Royal Society in 1857; and honorary Professor of Ancient History to the Royal Academy in 1859. He also received honours from other countries. He was offered a peerage by Gladstone in 1869 but declined it. He died in June 1871 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Archival history

GB 0103 MS ADD 134 1852-1870 Collection (fonds) 1 folder Grote , George , 1794-1871 , politician and historian

George Grote was born in Kent in November 1794, the eldest of eleven children. His father was a banker. At school George had a genuine love of learning which survived the plunge into business at the bank that his father imposed on him at the age of sixteen. He pursued his interest in classical reading, took up German and philosophy, and extended his view of political economy. He was also musical. From 1822, Grote was committed to the project of writing a history of Greece. From 1826 to 1830 he was one of the promoters of the new University College London. Grote became interested in political reform when he visited Paris in 1830. He became known as a man of business and this helped him when he entered politics. He sat through three parliaments till 1841, when he refused to be nominated again. He wished to return to studying and finish his History of Greece which was completed in 1856 and consisted of twelve volumes. In 1843 he left the bank permanently. Grote published other writings during his lifetime, mainly about politics and philosophy. In 1849 he was re-elected to the University College London Council and in 1868 he became president of the University. During his life Grote received many honours: D.D.L. of Oxford in 1853; LL.D. of Cambridge in 1861; fellow of the Royal Society in 1857; and honorary Professor of Ancient History to the Royal Academy in 1859. He also received honours from other countries. He was offered a peerage by Gladstone in 1869 but declined it. He died in June 1871 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Presented by H Clifford-Smith, grandson of Sir William Smith, in 1952.

Letters from Grote to Sir William Smith, lexicographer, concerning Smith's work and Grote's History of Greece, plus other subjects. Also included is a printed notice by Joseph Mazzini dated 8 November 1852, appealing for money, and a duplicated circular letter to Grote relating to 'The Hungarian Fund', signed by Lajos Kossuth, with a note from Grote, 1853.

Open.

Normal copyright restrictions apply.
English

Collection level description.

University College London Special Collections also holds portions of the manuscript of Grote's History of Greece, c1856 (Ref: MS ADD 107); correspondence of George Grote, Harriet Grote (née Lewin) and Jessie Lewin, 1861-1879 (Ref: MS ADD 120); five letters of Harriet Grote to Mrs Georgiana Malcolm, 1857-1862 and undated (Ref: MS ADD 174); correspondence and diaries of George and Harriet Grote and the Lewin family, 1819-1887 (Ref: MS ADD 266); correspondence of George and Harriet Grote with George Croom Robertson, 1860s-1870s (Ref: MS ADD 88); two letters from George Grote to the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, 1829, 1842 (Ref: SDUK); a letter from George Grote to Sir Edwin Chadwick, 1833, and one to J Austin, 1833 (Ref: BENTHAM); eight letters from George Grote to Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux, 1827-1844 and undated (Ref: BROUGHAM); a copy letter from George Grote to Sir Isaac Goldsmid, 1833; an undated letter from George Grote to Joseph Parkes and two from Harriet Grote, 1853, [1854] (Ref: PARKES); letters of George Grote concerning University College London business, 1826-[1850], 1870, and a letter from Harriet Grote concerning her gift to the Library [1873] (Ref: COLLEGE CORRESPONDENCE); miscellaneous correspondence of George and Harriet Grote (Ref: MS MISC 2G, 3G, 3T).

University of London (Library - Senate House) holds four volumes of George Grote's notes and essays, 1805-1820 (Ref: MS 429). The British Library, Manuscript Collections, holds letters to A Panizzi, 1855-1866 (Ref: Add MSS 36717-26 passim); correspondence with F Place, 1831-1850 (Ref: Add MSS 35144-51 passim); and other correspondence and papers (Ref: Add MSS 46691, 29513-32). Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives, holds historical notes and papers for the History of Greece, 1846-1865 (Ref: Add 1932-33). Cambridge University, Trinity College Library, holds correspondence and papers, 1835 and undated (Ref: Mayor Papers/C5). Oxford University, Bodleian Library, Special Collections and Western Manuscripts, holds essays, notes and papers, 1815-1870 (Ref: MSS Add c 201-02, 207-08, d 85), and miscellaneous letters and papers (Ref: MS Eng lett d 122). Birmingham University Information Services, Special Collections Department, holds letters to Harriet Martineau, 1858 (Ref: HM). The Centre for Kentish Studies holds letters to G W Norman, 1818-1835 (Ref: U310/C38,C38A). Dulwich College holds 14 items of correspondence on property. The National Library of Wales, Department of Manuscripts and Records, holds letters to Sir George Cornewall Lewis, 1840-1863 (Ref: Harpton Court). The National Library of Scotland, Manuscripts Division, holds correspondence with Edward Ellice, 1854-1876 (Ref: MS 15026). Maison D'Auguste Comte, Paris, holds six letters to Auguste Comte, 1840-1848.

Source: National Register of Archives. 1999, revised Jul 2001, Aug 2001 Ancient history Eastern Europe Europe Greece Grote , George , 1794-1871 , MP historian Historical periods History Hungary Italy Kossuth , Lajos , 1802-1894 , Hungarian revolutionary Lexicography Liberation movements Mazzini , Guiseppe , 1805-1872 , Genoese revolutionary x Mazzini , Joseph Political movements Political systems Self government Smith , Sir , William , 1813-1893 , Knight , lexicographer Soviet Union USSR Western Europe

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Presented by H Clifford-Smith, grandson of Sir William Smith, in 1952.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Letters from Grote to Sir William Smith, lexicographer, concerning Smith's work and Grote's History of Greece, plus other subjects. Also included is a printed notice by Joseph Mazzini dated 8 November 1852, appealing for money, and a duplicated circular letter to Grote relating to 'The Hungarian Fund', signed by Lajos Kossuth, with a note from Grote, 1853.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open.

Conditions governing reproduction

Normal copyright restrictions apply.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

University College London Special Collections also holds portions of the manuscript of Grote's History of Greece, c1856 (Ref: MS ADD 107); correspondence of George Grote, Harriet Grote (née Lewin) and Jessie Lewin, 1861-1879 (Ref: MS ADD 120); five letters of Harriet Grote to Mrs Georgiana Malcolm, 1857-1862 and undated (Ref: MS ADD 174); correspondence and diaries of George and Harriet Grote and the Lewin family, 1819-1887 (Ref: MS ADD 266); correspondence of George and Harriet Grote with George Croom Robertson, 1860s-1870s (Ref: MS ADD 88); two letters from George Grote to the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, 1829, 1842 (Ref: SDUK); a letter from George Grote to Sir Edwin Chadwick, 1833, and one to J Austin, 1833 (Ref: BENTHAM); eight letters from George Grote to Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux, 1827-1844 and undated (Ref: BROUGHAM); a copy letter from George Grote to Sir Isaac Goldsmid, 1833; an undated letter from George Grote to Joseph Parkes and two from Harriet Grote, 1853, [1854] (Ref: PARKES); letters of George Grote concerning University College London business, 1826-[1850], 1870, and a letter from Harriet Grote concerning her gift to the Library [1873] (Ref: COLLEGE CORRESPONDENCE); miscellaneous correspondence of George and Harriet Grote (Ref: MS MISC 2G, 3G, 3T).

Finding aids

Collection level description.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

University of London (Library - Senate House) holds four volumes of George Grote's notes and essays, 1805-1820 (Ref: MS 429). The British Library, Manuscript Collections, holds letters to A Panizzi, 1855-1866 (Ref: Add MSS 36717-26 passim); correspondence with F Place, 1831-1850 (Ref: Add MSS 35144-51 passim); and other correspondence and papers (Ref: Add MSS 46691, 29513-32). Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives, holds historical notes and papers for the History of Greece, 1846-1865 (Ref: Add 1932-33). Cambridge University, Trinity College Library, holds correspondence and papers, 1835 and undated (Ref: Mayor Papers/C5). Oxford University, Bodleian Library, Special Collections and Western Manuscripts, holds essays, notes and papers, 1815-1870 (Ref: MSS Add c 201-02, 207-08, d 85), and miscellaneous letters and papers (Ref: MS Eng lett d 122). Birmingham University Information Services, Special Collections Department, holds letters to Harriet Martineau, 1858 (Ref: HM). The Centre for Kentish Studies holds letters to G W Norman, 1818-1835 (Ref: U310/C38,C38A). Dulwich College holds 14 items of correspondence on property. The National Library of Wales, Department of Manuscripts and Records, holds letters to Sir George Cornewall Lewis, 1840-1863 (Ref: Harpton Court). The National Library of Scotland, Manuscripts Division, holds correspondence with Edward Ellice, 1854-1876 (Ref: MS 15026). Maison D'Auguste Comte, Paris, holds six letters to Auguste Comte, 1840-1848.

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

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Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

University College London

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area