Bancroft, George (1800–1891)

US diplomat and historian. A Democrat, he was secretary of the navy in 1845 when he established the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, and as acting secretary of war (May 1846) was instrumental in bringing about the occupation of California and the Mexican War. He wrote a History of the United States (1834–76).

Bancroft was educated at Harvard and in Germany at Göttingen, Berlin, and Heidelberg. On his return to the USA in 1820 he became Greek tutor at Harvard. He was made collector of the port of Boston 1837, minister to Great Britain 1846–49, and minister to Prussia 1867–74. His historical work, written at the time of the Civil War, was influential in inspiring an ideal concept of liberty.