Who is john acton

In this remarkable biography, Roland Hill is the first to make full use of the vast collection of books, documents, and private papers in the Acton archives to tell the story of the enigmatic Lord Acton. With an introduction by the editor, S. In this essay, Dr. Altholz describes Acton's rigorous approach to the historian's vocation, especially focusing on his view of the historical project in relation to religion and liberty.

Altholz examines Lord Acton's views on truth and truthfulness, as well as Acton's differing opinions and eventual departure from his mentor, Ignaz von Dollinger. There were highly distinctive elements in the education of Lord Acton. It is Professor Holland's contention that there was a direct relationship between those elements and Acton's life work, including his championing of an educated laity, free intellectual inquiry, historical study as a conserver of truth, and the duty of the informed historian to make moral judgments in history.

In his energetic and often brilliant pursuit of these causes, Lord Acton relentlessly invoked the intellectual and moral canons acquired in his youth.

This writing examines Lord Acton's views on revolution. Although he did not exactly approve of revolution, he was able to tolerate it because he believed it increased freedom. Although he would end up as Regius Professor, the youthful Acton could not go up to Cambridge University because he was a Roman Catholic.

In his twenties he spent a few silent and inconspicuous years as an MP. He became an intimate friend and adviser of Gladstone, who made him Lord Acton of Aldenham in , and he edited a Roman Catholic monthly in a spirit which did not endear him to conservatives. When the struggle over the doctrine of papal infallibility came to a head at the Vatican Council of , Acton went to Rome to rally opposition to it. He was laid out in his magnificent crimson Cambridge robes and buried in the local cemetery beside the lake.

The Death of Lord Acton. He turned to a new project, 'The History of Freedom', which he worked on while living on the continent. He gave lectures on the French Revolution and modern history, and was chiefly responsible for organising the Cambridge modern history. Acton died at Tegernsee, Bavaria, on 19 June Additional Manuscripts Catalogue. An item-level catalogue is also available in the Manuscripts Reading Room.

The papers were held initially by the Acton family. With the removal of Lord Acton to Southern Rhodesia in the collection passed to Mia Woodruff, grand-daughter of the first Lord, and her husband Douglas, at their residence at Marcham Priory, Berkshire. The papers remained at Marcham until their sale to Cambridge University Library in Shropshire Record Office holds the Acton of Aldenham papers, some 1, items dating from the sixteenth to the twentieth century, S.

Some of the letters in the collection have been published. These are indicated in the catalogue. Archive Collection. Acquisition Information Purchased