John Clark Ridpath
Encyclopedia
John Clark Ridpath was an American educator, historian, and editor. His mother was a descendant of Samuel Matthews
, a colonial governor of Virginia
.
, in Putnam County, Indiana
. His parents were from West Virginia
, and began life under circumstances of great discouragement and hardship. The son had no early educational advantages besides those that he obtained at frontier schools, but his appetite for books was insatiable, and at seventeen he was a teacher.
), where he graduated with the highest honors of his class. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta
fraternity, as well. Before graduation he had been elected to an instructorship in the Thorntown, Indiana
academy, and in 1864, he was made its principal. This office he held until 1867, when he was chosen to fill the chair of languages at Baker University
, Baldwin City, Kansas
. During the same period he served as superintendent of the Lawrenceburg, Indiana
public schools.
In 1869 he was elected professor of English literature in Asbury College, and two years later he was assigned to the chair of belles-lettres and history of the same institution. In 1879 he was elected vice-president of the university, and he was largely the originator of the measures by which that institution was placed under the patronage of Washington C. DePauw
, and took his name. In 1880 he received the degree of LL. D. from Syracuse University
.
In the later 1890s, he was editor of a magazine called The Arena.
He wrote biographies of James G. Blaine
, James A. Garfield, William Ewart Gladstone
, and James Otis
. His popular volumes of history were successful, and reissued many times.
His publications include:
, in 1900. His body was taken from the hospital by the Stephen Merritt Burial Company.
, next to DePauw University, stands Ridpath Primary School. Ridpath Primary School was named after his sister Martha.
Samuel Matthews
Captain Samuel Matthews was an English Colonial Governor of Virginia. Matthews came to Virginia Colony in 1622 and was chosen as governor by the House of Burgesses in 1656. In April 1658, mainly to signal their displeasure with Oliver Cromwell, the Burgesses ceremonially dismissed him and...
, a colonial governor of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
Youth
He was born near the village of Fillmore, IndianaFillmore, Indiana
Fillmore is a town in Marion Township, Putnam County, Indiana, United States. The population was 533 at the 2010 census.The town is part of the South Putnam Community Schools school district.-Geography:Fillmore is located at ....
, in Putnam County, Indiana
Putnam County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 36,019 people, 12,374 households, and 9,119 families residing in the county. The population density was 75 people per square mile . There were 13,505 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
. His parents were from West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, and began life under circumstances of great discouragement and hardship. The son had no early educational advantages besides those that he obtained at frontier schools, but his appetite for books was insatiable, and at seventeen he was a teacher.
Education and career
At nineteen he entered Indiana Asbury College (later DePauw UniversityDePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
), where he graduated with the highest honors of his class. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta
Phi Gamma Delta
The international fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta is a collegiate social fraternity with 120 chapters and 18 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and its headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky, USA...
fraternity, as well. Before graduation he had been elected to an instructorship in the Thorntown, Indiana
Thorntown, Indiana
Thorntown is a town in Sugar Creek Township, Boone County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,562 at the 2000 census. Thorntown is located in northwestern Boone City, about halfway between Lafayette and Indianapolis.-Geography:...
academy, and in 1864, he was made its principal. This office he held until 1867, when he was chosen to fill the chair of languages at Baker University
Baker University
Baker University is a private, residential university located in Baldwin City, Kansas, United States. Founded in 1858, it is the oldest university in Kansas and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Baker University is made up of four schools...
, Baldwin City, Kansas
Baldwin City, Kansas
Baldwin City is a city in Douglas County, Kansas, United States about south of Lawrence and west of Gardner. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,515. It is part of the Lawrence, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. During the same period he served as superintendent of the Lawrenceburg, Indiana
Lawrenceburg, Indiana
Lawrenceburg is a city in Dearborn County, Indiana, United States. The population was 5,042 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Dearborn County...
public schools.
In 1869 he was elected professor of English literature in Asbury College, and two years later he was assigned to the chair of belles-lettres and history of the same institution. In 1879 he was elected vice-president of the university, and he was largely the originator of the measures by which that institution was placed under the patronage of Washington C. DePauw
Washington C. DePauw
Washington Charles DePauw was an American businessman. DePauw University is named in his honor.DePauw was born in Salem, Indiana, on January 4, 1822. He was grandson of Charles DePauw, who came to the Americas with LaFayette, and the son of John and Elizabeth Battist DePauw. John DePauw had...
, and took his name. In 1880 he received the degree of LL. D. from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
.
Author
In 1885 Ridpath left his position at the University to devote himself more to writing.In the later 1890s, he was editor of a magazine called The Arena.
He wrote biographies of James G. Blaine
James G. Blaine
James Gillespie Blaine was a U.S. Representative, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, U.S. Senator from Maine, two-time Secretary of State...
, James A. Garfield, William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
, and James Otis
James Otis, Jr.
James Otis, Jr. was a lawyer in colonial Massachusetts, a member of the Massachusetts provincial assembly, and an early advocate of the political views that led to the American Revolution. The phrase "Taxation without Representation is Tyranny" is usually attributed to him...
. His popular volumes of history were successful, and reissued many times.
His publications include:
- Academic History of the United States (New York, 1874–5)
- Popular History of the United States of America (1876)
- Grammar-School History (1877)
- Inductive Grammar of the English Language (1878–9)
- Monograph on Alexander Hamilton (1880)
- Life and Work of Garfield (1881)
- Life of James G. Blaine (1893)
- History of Texas (1884)
- A Cyclopaedia of Universal HistoryCyclopedia of Universal HistoryThe Cyclopedia of Universal History was an encyclopedia of world history authored by John Clark Ridpath. It was produced, initially in 3 volumes, from 1880 to 1884 and was copiously illustrated in black and white. This was later expanded to 16 volumes...
(3 volumes, 1880–4) - Ridpath's History of the WorldCyclopedia of Universal HistoryThe Cyclopedia of Universal History was an encyclopedia of world history authored by John Clark Ridpath. It was produced, initially in 3 volumes, from 1880 to 1884 and was copiously illustrated in black and white. This was later expanded to 16 volumes...
(8 volumes, 1894)- Ridpath's Universal History (16 volumes, 1895)
- Notable events of the nineteenth century. Great deeds of men and nations and the progress of the world, in a series of short studies (1896)
- "History of the World, Comprising Evolution of Mankind and Story of All Races" (4 volumes, 1897)
- The Ridpath Library of Universal Literature (25 volumes, 1898)
- James Otis, the pre-revolutionist (1898)
- Story of South Africa: an account of the historical transformation of the dark continent by the European powers and the culminating contest between Great Britain and the South African Republic in the Transvaal War (1899)
- History of The United States (10 Volumes, 1905)
Death
Ridpath died at Presbyterian Hospital in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, in 1900. His body was taken from the hospital by the Stephen Merritt Burial Company.
Legacy
Today, in Greencastle, IndianaGreencastle, Indiana
Greencastle is a city in Greencastle Township, Putnam County, Indiana, United States, and the county seat of Putnam County. It was founded in 1821 by Scots-Irish American Ephraim Dukes on a land grant. He named the settlement for his hometown of Greencastle, Pennsylvania...
, next to DePauw University, stands Ridpath Primary School. Ridpath Primary School was named after his sister Martha.