Roger Bigelow Merriman (May 24, 1876 – September 7, 1945) was an American historian and a practitioner of scientific historiography developed by German historians. He is known especially for his multivolume history of the Spanish Empire.[1]
Merriman entered Harvard University as an undergraduate in 1892, earning both an A.B. and an M.A. degree. He went on to spend two years (1897–99) studying history at Oxford University, finishing with a B.Litt degree. He obtained his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1902 and that same year published his biography of Cromwell, which he considered "as apprentice work."[1]: 93 [4] In 1902 Merriman was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society.[5]
Merriman taught at Harvard for many years. He was initially hired in 1902 as an instructor and was later promoted to assistant professor (1908) and full professor (1918). He served for a time as master of Eliot House.[4] In 1925-36, he was a visiting professor at the Sorbonne in France.[4] He received a number of honorary doctorates.[4]
The course he taught on the Spanish Empire gave the impetus for his research and voluminous publication on the topic.[1]: 93–94 His four-volume work The Rise of the Spanish Empire (1918-1934) is recognized as a pioneering work in the field of Latin American history. Its main thesis is that "the Spanish Empire, unlike its British rival, was the natural continuation of Spain's medieval history."[1]: 95 One assessment of his work is that "Merriman will always be a historian's historian," and his work never found public favor. "In the long run, one feels, the reputation of Roger Merriman is secure in the hands of his fellow historians."[1]: 103
Worksedit
The Life and Letters of Thomas Cromwell (London, 1902)
The Rise of the Spanish Empire (4 vols., 1918–34)
Suleiman the Magnificent 1520-1566 (Cambridge, Mass., 1944)
Personal lifeedit
Merriman married Dorothea Foote on June 2, 1904, and they had four children: Roger, Daniel, Dorothea, and Helen.[3][4]
^ abcdeGarrett Mattingly, "The Historian of the Spanish Empire", in Latin American History: Essays on its Study and Teaching, section III, "Pioneers, 1900-1918", vol. 1, p. 99. reprinted from The American Historical Review, 54::32-48 (Oct. 1948).
^ ab"Merriman Family Papers". Massachusetts Historical Society.
^ abHarvard College Class of 1896 Secretary's Fifth Report. June 1916. pp. 186–187. Retrieved April 29, 2023 – via Google Books.
^ abcdeC.K.S. "Roger Bigelow Merriman". American Antiquarian Society, October 1945, pp. 245-47. (Obituary)
^"Prof. Roger Merriman of Harvard Dies at 69". The Boston Globe. September 7, 1945. pp. 1, 9. Retrieved April 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
January 01, 1970
merriman, roger, bigelow, merriman, 1876, september, 1945, american, historian, practitioner, scientific, historiography, developed, german, historians, known, especially, multivolume, history, spanish, empire, bornroger, bigelow, merriman, 1876, 1876boston, m. Roger Bigelow Merriman May 24 1876 September 7 1945 was an American historian and a practitioner of scientific historiography developed by German historians He is known especially for his multivolume history of the Spanish Empire 1 R B MerrimanBornRoger Bigelow Merriman 1876 05 24 May 24 1876Boston Massachusetts United StatesDiedSeptember 7 1945 1945 09 07 aged 69 Saint Andrews New Brunswick CanadaEducationHarvard University Oxford UniversityOccupationHistorianSpouseDorothea Foote m 1904 wbr Children4 Contents 1 Biography 2 Works 3 Personal life 4 ReferencesBiography editR B Merriman was born in Boston on May 24 1876 the only child of Daniel Merriman minister of the Central Congregational Church in Worcester Massachusetts and the artist and art collector Helen Bigelow Merriman 2 3 His maternal grandfather was Erastus Brigham Bigelow an inventor of weaving machinery 2 Merriman entered Harvard University as an undergraduate in 1892 earning both an A B and an M A degree He went on to spend two years 1897 99 studying history at Oxford University finishing with a B Litt degree He obtained his Ph D from Harvard in 1902 and that same year published his biography of Cromwell which he considered as apprentice work 1 93 4 In 1902 Merriman was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society 5 Merriman taught at Harvard for many years He was initially hired in 1902 as an instructor and was later promoted to assistant professor 1908 and full professor 1918 He served for a time as master of Eliot House 4 In 1925 36 he was a visiting professor at the Sorbonne in France 4 He received a number of honorary doctorates 4 The course he taught on the Spanish Empire gave the impetus for his research and voluminous publication on the topic 1 93 94 His four volume work The Rise of the Spanish Empire 1918 1934 is recognized as a pioneering work in the field of Latin American history Its main thesis is that the Spanish Empire unlike its British rival was the natural continuation of Spain s medieval history 1 95 One assessment of his work is that Merriman will always be a historian s historian and his work never found public favor In the long run one feels the reputation of Roger Merriman is secure in the hands of his fellow historians 1 103 Works editThe Life and Letters of Thomas Cromwell London 1902 The Rise of the Spanish Empire 4 vols 1918 34 Suleiman the Magnificent 1520 1566 Cambridge Mass 1944 Personal life editMerriman married Dorothea Foote on June 2 1904 and they had four children Roger Daniel Dorothea and Helen 3 4 He died at Saint Andrews New Brunswick on September 7 1945 6 References edit a b c d e Garrett Mattingly The Historian of the Spanish Empire in Latin American History Essays on its Study and Teaching section III Pioneers 1900 1918 vol 1 p 99 reprinted from The American Historical Review 54 32 48 Oct 1948 a b Merriman Family Papers Massachusetts Historical Society a b Harvard College Class of 1896 Secretary s Fifth Report June 1916 pp 186 187 Retrieved April 29 2023 via Google Books a b c d e C K S Roger Bigelow Merriman American Antiquarian Society October 1945 pp 245 47 Obituary American Antiquarian Society Members Directory Prof Roger Merriman of Harvard Dies at 69 The Boston Globe September 7 1945 pp 1 9 Retrieved April 29 2023 via Newspapers com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title R B Merriman amp oldid 1152403771, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
