James Bryce, Viscount Bryce
James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce, was a distinguished British jurist, historian, and politician, known for his significant contributions to legal education and his insightful analyses of American society. Born into a family with a strong academic background, Bryce demonstrated a liberal perspective early in his education at Trinity College, Oxford. He later pursued legal studies at Lincoln's Inn and Heidelberg, earning recognition for his historical writings, notably winning the Arnold Prize for an essay on the Holy Roman Empire.
Bryce's career included roles as an educator and a member of Parliament, where he was known for his articulate and balanced speeches. He made several influential trips to the United States, during which he engaged with prominent figures and penned "The American Commonwealth," a seminal work that examined American political systems and institutions. His insights on governance and political parties continue to be valued for their depth and clarity.
In addition to his scholarly work, Bryce served as the British ambassador to the United States from 1907 to 1913, fostering Anglo-American relations during a critical period. His legacy is marked by his intellectual contributions and active participation in political discourse, influencing both British and American perspectives for decades.
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Subject Terms
James Bryce, Viscount Bryce
British historian and diplomat
- Born: May 10, 1838
- Birthplace: Belfast, Ireland (now in Northern Ireland)
- Died: January 22, 1922
- Place of death: Sidmouth, Devon, England
Biography
James Bryce, jurist, historian, and politician, was the oldest son of James Bryce, a schoolmaster and geologist. The younger Bryce evidenced his liberal outlook while in Trinity College, Oxford University, by refusing to qualify for a scholarship by signing the Thirty-Nine Articles, a refusal which was described as “the triumph of liberalism in Oxford.”
After Oxford, where he stood at the head of his class, Bryce studied law at Lincoln’s Inn in 1862 and at Heidelberg the next year. In 1863, Bryce won the Arnold Prize for a historical essay on the Holy Roman Empire, an essay still prized for its clarity of style and simple treatment.
In 1865 and 1866, Bryce was an assistant commissioner on the Schools Inquiry Commission, and he urged the development of better and more comprehensive education for boys and girls. In 1868, he began to teach law at Owens College, where he continued until 1874. In 1870, he became professor of civil law at Oxford, a post that he retained until 1893. He entered Parliament in 1874 from the borough of Wick. Always a liberal, in Parliament he was named “the professor” by Joseph Chamberlain because of his logical and well-informed speeches that disconcertingly looked at both sides of an argument.
Bryce first visited the United States in 1870, a journey that was limited to the northeastern section. In 1881, he made another trip, extending his travels through the South and to the Pacific coast. He made another trip in 1883, this time all the way to Hawaii. He consulted with such notables as Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, and Charles W. Eliot as he prepared to write a survey of American civilization. The American Commonwealth, Bryce’s most famous book, became an instant classic. It went through several editions and revisions. The work is notable for Bryce’s comments on why great men are not elected president, the role of political parties, and the potential for reform of cities and other institutions. Bryce was a perceptive analyst who admired the American system.
After holding numerous offices in Britain, Bryce returned to Washington, D.C., as ambassador in 1907 and remained until 1913. He contributed to the growing friendship between the United States and Great Britain. After leaving Washington, he remained active in British politics during World War I. Bryce was an important force in Anglo-American affairs for three decades, and his work on the United States continues to have an intellectual impact.
Bibliography
Fisher, H. A. L. James Bryce. 2 vols. New York: Macmillan, 1927. The standard biography.
Ions, Edmund S. James Bryce and American Democracy, 1870-1922. New York: Humanities Press, 1970. Ions considers Bryce’s role as an interpreter of the United States and as a British diplomat in Washington, D.C.
Keller, Morton. “James Bryce and America.” Wilson Quarterly 12 (Autumn, 1988). Covers specific aspects of Bryce’s public career.
Robbins, Keith. Politicians, Diplomacy, and War in Modern British History. Rio Grande, Ohio: Hambledon Press, 1994. Includes two informative chapters about Bryce.
Shaughnessy, D. F. “Anatomy of the Republic: On Bryce’s Americans.” Encounter 73 (July/August, 1989). Covers specific aspects of Bryce’s public career.
Tulloch, Hugh. James Bryce’s “American Commonwealth”: The Anglo-American Background. Wolfeboro, N.H.: Boydell Press, 1988. A volume from the Royal Historical Society. Includes an index and a bibliography.