William Hickling Prescott (4 May 1796-28 January 1859), early Victorian historian of the Spanish empire, was born in Salem, Massachusetts. Prescott possessed the typical characteristics of the Brahmin caste of New England. He was of old New England Scotts: his ancestor John Prescott settled in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, about 1640. In 1796 William Prescott married Catherine Hickling, daughter of a wealthy Boston merchant. In 1808 Prescott's father moved to Boston, where he invested successfully in industry, railroads, and insurance. Prescott entered the sophomore class at Harvard College in 1811, intending to follow his father's career in the practice of law, but drastic physical maladies soon forced a change of direction. During his junior year, Prescott lost the sight of his left eye when struck by a hard crust of bread during a brawl in the college dining hall. He continued his studies, and had earned membership in Phi Beta Kappa by the time of...