John Acton, 1st Baron Acton (1834-1902), Historian and moralist

Sitter in 3 portraits
John Acton was a historian and a scholar of enormous erudition and vision. He never completed any major work, although his essays and lectures were of seminal importance in the development of the study of modern history. Acton helped to found the English Historical Review, and to plan the Cambridge Modern History course. He believed passionately in political morality and liberty of conscience.