George Grote,
HISTORIAN,
Was born in 1794 at Clay Hill, near Beckenham. His ancestors came from Germany, and his grandfather was head of the banking house, in Threadneedle Street, of Grote and Prescott. He was educated at Charterhouse, on leaving which he entered as a clerk in his father's counting house. Devoting his leisure to study, he commenced in 1823 the compilation on which his fame chiefly rests, his well known "History of Greece." In 1832 he was elected Member for the City of London, on Reform principles, and he continued Member till 1841. While in the House he had charge of the Bill for establishing Vote by Ballot. His "History of Greece" was completed in 1866. He contributed at intervals several Essays in political and classical subjects to the Edinburgh, Westminster and other Reviews. Mr. Grote married a Kentish lady, Miss Harriet Lewis, herself a writer of repute, authoress of the "Life of Ary Scheffer" and other works. He died June 18, 1871, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. His personal life has been written by his wife, and was published in 1873, (q. v.)
[See also (for literary references) "Allibone's Dictionary of Authors."]