Samuel Rawson Gardiner facts for kids
Samuel Rawson Gardiner (born March 4, 1829, died February 24, 1902) was an English historian. He was an expert on 17th-century English history. He is well-known for his important work on the Puritan revolution and the English Civil War.
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Life of Samuel Rawson Gardiner
Samuel Rawson Gardiner was born in Ropley, Hampshire. His father was Rawson Boddam Gardiner. He went to school at Winchester College and then studied at Christ Church, Oxford. He did very well in his studies there.
Later, he became a special member (called a "fellow") at All Souls and Merton. For several years, he was a professor of modern history at King's College London. He spent his life studying history. In 1896, he was chosen to give the first series of important lectures at Oxford University. He passed away in Sevenoaks when he was 72 years old.
Gardiner's Work on the Puritan Revolution
Gardiner wrote a huge history about the Puritan Revolution and the English Civil War. This history was published in 19 books! They came out in different sets. His work started with the time when King James I of England became king.
After Gardiner died, another historian named Charles Harding Firth finished his work. He added two more books to the series.
Gardiner's main history books are:
- History of England from the Accession of James I to the Outbreak of the Civil War, 1603–1642 (10 books)
- History of the Great Civil War, 1642–1649 (5 books)
- History of the Commonwealth and Protectorate, 1649–1660 (4 books)
Gardiner studied his topic very deeply. He looked at political history and how the government changed. He also explored changes in religion, ideas, and feelings during that time. Many of the old papers he used were handwritten. He searched tirelessly in public and private collections of papers. He even looked in archives in places like Simancas (Spain), Venice, Rome, Brussels, and Paris.
Some people think Gardiner was interested in this time because he was related to Oliver Cromwell and Henry Ireton. But his opinions were fair and balanced. He was very good at understanding people's characters. For example, he wrote about James I, Francis Bacon, William Laud, Thomas Wentworth, and Oliver Cromwell.
Gardiner also wrote clearly about how the government worked. He discussed the ideas of people who dreamed of perfect societies. He also looked at plans for government made by important leaders. He always highlighted anything that showed how humans improved their ideas about right and wrong, religion, and politics. He especially focused on how the idea of religious tolerance grew. He found many of his facts in the writings of lesser-known writers. These writings showed what ordinary people were thinking.
Gardiner's work is very detailed. Sometimes, he might have thought some sources were more important than they were. He might have seen a big trend when it was just one person's unusual idea. He also sometimes relied too much on reports from ambassadors, which might have been written for a special reason.
His writing style was clear and simple. He wanted readers to think, not just feel. He wasn't often dramatic, but when he described important events, like the execution of King Charles I, he wrote with sadness and respect.
Because his story was so detailed, it could sometimes be hard to follow. Even though he organized things well, sometimes a topic would be interrupted by other events. This made it hard for readers to keep track. Gardiner was very fair and good at judging people, but his work sometimes lacked strong feelings. It could leave readers feeling a bit cold. Still, his work is excellent. It shows deep thought, a love for truth, and good taste.
Gardiner wrote other books, mostly about the same time period. But his big history series is what he is most famous for. It was the result of a lifetime of hard work and is a great example of historical scholarship.
His importance as a historian was officially recognized. In 1882, he received a special payment each year for his "valuable contributions to the history of England." He also received honorary degrees from Oxford, Edinburgh, and Göttingen universities. In 1894, he turned down a very important teaching job at Oxford. He did this so he could keep working on his history books without interruption.
Historian John Morrill said that Gardiner was a brilliant historian. He carefully checked every source to make sure it was true and accurate. He also looked for any unfair opinions. Morrill said Gardiner explained things with great care and clarity, better than anyone else for that time period.
Gardiner's View of Oliver Cromwell
Samuel Rawson Gardiner was a leading historian of his time. So, his thoughts on Oliver Cromwell are very important. Many people have had very different ideas about Cromwell throughout history.
Gardiner had many positive things to say about Cromwell. He believed that Cromwell was a great man. He always tried to put the country's needs first, even before his own. He also cared more about moral and spiritual goals than about money or power.
Gardiner noted that Cromwell had some weaknesses, like all people do. He was also limited because people around him didn't always agree with his ideas. But the changes Cromwell made against the old system lasted. Few people wanted to go back to a king having all the power. They also didn't want one part of Parliament to have all the power. And they didn't want the old church system to return.
Gardiner also explained why Cromwell's government didn't last forever. One reason was that people didn't like his army being involved in politics. The army also cost a lot of money, which people weren't used to paying. Another reason was a reaction against the strict religious ideas of the Puritans, which Cromwell represented.
Gardiner said that people didn't dislike Cromwell's religious ideas or church rules. Instead, they disliked the army's power. They also reacted against the idea of the government trying to make people too moral or religious. Even though Cromwell was not a harsh religious fanatic, he tried to use the government to make people more moral and religious. This went beyond what most people wanted.
When dealing with other countries, Cromwell made more mistakes. Gardiner believed Cromwell knew less about other countries than he did about England, Scotland, or Ireland. Some people say Cromwell made England respected in Europe. But Gardiner thought it was more accurate to say he made England feared.
Gardiner believed that Cromwell's greatness becomes clearer as time passes. People tend to forget his limitations or mistakes. Instead, they remember his noble reasons, his strong character, and his broad intelligence. This is because many of the things Cromwell fought for have now been achieved, even if in different ways. Even those who don't care about his religious goals remember how hard he worked to make England strong on land and at sea. Gardiner felt people should also remember his constant efforts to make England worthy of that greatness.
Family Life
Samuel Rawson Gardiner married Isabell Irving. She was the daughter of Reverend Edward Irving.
Selected Works by Gardiner
Gardiner wrote many books and edited collections of historical papers. Here are some of his important works:
- History of England from the Accession of James I to the Disgrace of Chief-justice Coke. 1602–1616 (1863)
- Prince Charles and the Spanish Marriage, 1617–1623 (1869)
- The Thirty Years' War, 1618–1648 (1874)
- The Constitutional Documents of the Puritan Revolution, 1628–1660 (1889)
- A Student's History of England, from the Earliest Times to 1885 (1890–1891)
- Oliver Cromwell (1899)
He also edited papers for the Camden Society and was the editor of the English Historical Review starting in 1891.
See also
In Spanish: Samuel Rawson Gardiner para niños
