OBITUARY NOTICES. 
445 
In 1845 he was appointed Secretary of the Nav}^ by Presi¬ 
dent Polk, and in that office performed valuable service. 
He established the Naval Academy at Annapolis, entering 
into the project with great zeal and intelligence. In fact, 
in all his executive positions he achieved success. He also 
rendered important service to the Naval Observatory in 
Washington by obtaining increased appropriations and se¬ 
curing professors of great ability. 
In 1846 he was appointed minister plenipotentiary to 
Great Britain, where he remained until 1849. During his 
residence in England he continued his historical researches 
and worked upon his history. 
On returning from Great Britain he took up his residence 
in New York, where his friend Griswold, who had mean¬ 
while abandoned the school at Round Hill, was now super¬ 
intendent of the Astor library, and from him he doubtless 
received great assistance and encouragement. 
From 1849 to 1866 he seems to have devoted himself 
wholly to historical work. 
In 1866 he was invited by Congress to pronounce a eulogy 
upon Abraham Lincoln, and in 1867 he returned to public 
life, having been appointed by President Johnson minister 
to Russia. 
Though a lifelong Democrat, taking no part in the anti¬ 
slavery agitation, and even as a cabinet minister making 
no resistance to the encroachments of the South in the 
interest of slavery, yet, in view of his great ability, his 
acquaintance with foreign governments, his experience, 
and his skill as a diplomatist, he was selected by General 
Grant as a fitting representative of the United States to a 
foreign nation, and, in 1871, w'as accredited minister to the 
German Empire. 
While at Berlin he rendered important service in settling 
with Great Britain the dispute respecting the northwestern 
boundary of the United States, and when the question was 
submitted to the King of Prussia Mr. Bancroft prepared the 
argument for this Government. He also prepared the treaty 
