William Hickling Prescott
1796 – 1859

William Hickling Prescott

American historian and Hispanist (1796–1859)

hispanisthistorianjuristwriter
Born
1796-05-04, Salem
Died
1859-01-28
Birthplace state
Massachusetts

Biography

William Hickling Prescott was an American historian and Hispanist, who is widely recognized by historiographers to have been the first American scientific historian. Despite having serious visual impairment, which at times prevented him from reading or writing for himself, Prescott became one of the most eminent historians of 19th-century America. He is also noted for his eidetic memory, also called "photographic memory".

Occupation

William Hickling Prescott is recorded as a hispanist, a historian, a jurist and a writer, born in Massachusetts (1796–1859).

Connections to Massachusetts

William Hickling Prescott was born in Salem, Massachusetts in 1796. Explore other notable figures from Massachusetts, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
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Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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More notable figures from Massachusetts

Other historical figures born in Massachusetts, ranked by historical prominence.

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George H. W. Bush
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John Adams
Founding Father, U.S. president from 1797 to 1801
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John Quincy Adams
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Ralph Waldo Emerson
American philosopher (1803–1882)

Frequently asked about William Hickling Prescott

Who was William Hickling Prescott?
William Hickling Prescott was American historian and Hispanist (1796–1859), born in Massachusetts (1796 – 1859).
When and where was William Hickling Prescott born?
William Hickling Prescott was born on 1796-05-04 in Salem.
When did William Hickling Prescott die?
William died on 1859-01-28.
What was William Hickling Prescott known for?
William Hickling Prescott is recorded as a hispanist, a historian, a jurist and a writer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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