U.S. Minister to the Austrian Empire

U.S. Minister to Great Britain

(1814-77) Historian, author and diplomat. Born at Dorchester, Mass., he studied under the noted historian George Bancroft at the Round Hill School in Northampton, Mass., and then went on to Harvard graduating in 1831. He served as the Secretary of Legation in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1841. He was the author of, "Causes of the Civil War in America" published in 1861, which made a very favorable impression on President Lincoln. Shortly afterwards, Lincoln appointed him U.S. Minister to the Austrian Empire, a post he served in with great distinction until 1867. He was sent to London in 1869 to serve as the U.S. Minister to Great Britain by President U.S. Grant, but his term here was short lived as an angered Grant dismissed him in November 1870. Motley was disregarding the specific orders sent to him by U.S. Secretary of State, Hamilton Fish concerning the settlement of the Alabama Claims.* Motley was also sponsored by his close friend, Radical Republican Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, a person whom Grant had a great deal of animosity for. Motley will be remembered as one of America's greatest historians.

Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photograph, mounted to 2 3/8 x 4 card. Standing view. Period ink inscription on the front mount, J. Lothrop Motley. Backmark: E. Anthony, New York, made from a photographic negative in Brady's National Portrait Gallery. Light age toning and wear. Very fine.

* The Alabama claims were damages filed for by the United States government against the government of Great Britain for assistance given to the Confederacy during the Civil War. Great Britain settled the claims by paying the U.S. $15.5 million for damages caused by several warships built in England and sold to the Confederacy.

Famous quote by Motley: "Give us luxuries of life, and we will dispense with its necessities."