thumb|Richard Hildreth

Richard Hildreth (June 28, 1807 – July 11, 1865), was an American journalist, writer and historian. He is best known for writing his six-volume History of the United States of America covering 1497–1821 and published 1840-1853. Historians consider it a highly accurate political history of the early Republic, but with a strong bias in favor of the Federalist Party and the abolition of slavery. At the time of his death in 1865, he still had many unfinished works.

Early life

Hildreth was born at Deerfield, Massachusetts. He was the son of Hosea Hildreth (1782–1835), who was a teacher of mathematics and later a Congregational minister. His mother was Sarah McLeod, who had married Hosea in 1806.

Hosea Hildreth was appointed professor of mathematics and natural philosophy at Phillips Exeter Academy in 1811, and young Richard began attending Phillips in 1816, staying for seven years thereafter.

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  • Archy Moore, the white slave; or, Memoirs of a fugitive, 1836
  • The history of banks; to which is added a demonstration of the advantages and necessity of free competition in the business of banking, 1837
  • Banks, banking, and paper currencies; In three parts. I. History of banking and paper money. II. Argument for open competition in banking. III. Apology for One-Dollar notes. 1840
  • Theory of morals an inquiry concerning the law of moral distinctions and the variations and contradictions of ethical codes, 1844
  • Theory of politics; an inquiry into the foundations of governments and the causes and progress of political revolutions. 1853
  • Despotism in America: an inquiry into the nature, results, and legal basis of the slave-holding system in the United States, 1854

The History of the United States of America, in six volumes

  • Japan as it was and is, 1855

Notes

References

  • Emerson, Donald E. (1946). Richard Hildreth Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
  • Schlesinger, Jr., Arthur M. "The Problem of Richard Hildreth," New England Quarterly (1940) 13#2 pp. 223–245 in JSTOR
  • Works by Richard Hildreth at Project Gutenberg.