John Acton (Acton John)

(1834-1902)
Full name - John Emery, Edward Dalberg-Acton. Born in Naples on Jan. 10, 1834, only child of Sir Richard Acton and Marie Louise de Pellinen Dahlberg. Acton sent him to Askott College, but a crucial role in his fate played a residence in 1850-1854 in Munich, where he became a disciple of the famous Catholic historian and theologian J. Dellinger. Teacher instilled Acton taste for historical analysis and a dislike for the political ambitions of the papacy. Nevertheless, Acton remained a Catholic. Acton's views have found expression in a number of periodicals, . causing rejection of the ecclesiastical authorities: 'Conversations' ( 'Rambler', . 1858-1864), 'Review of domestic and foreign affairs' ( 'Home and Foreign Review', . 1862-1864); 'Chronicle' ( 'Chronicle', . 1867-1868); 'Severobritanskoe Review' ( 'North British Review', . 1868-1872),
. Acton was a member of parliament (1859-1865), in 1869 was elevated to the peerage in 1895 appointed professor of modern history at Cambridge University. Known for his support of the liberals, at one time was an advisor to William Gladstone. After the death of Acton his essays and lectures went in collection of lectures on modern history (Lectures on Modern History, . 1906); History of Freedom and Other Essays (The History of Freedom and other Essays, . 1907); Historical essays and studies (Historical Essays and Studies, . 1907), and Lectures on the French Revolution (Lectures on the French Revolution, . 1910),
. Acton had a strong influence on his contemporaries, historians, although it did not leave behind any great difficulty. Under his editorship was published the first volume of the Cambridge modern history (Cambridge Modern History, 1903). Widely known for his phrase: 'Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely'. Acton died in Tegernsee (Germany) June 19, 1902.




Literature