The Lord Acton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Parliament for Bridgnorth | |
| In office 25 July 1865 – 1866 Serving with John Pritchard | |
| Preceded by | Henry Whitmore |
| Succeeded by | Henry Whitmore |
| Member of Parliament for Carlow | |
| In office 19 May 1859 – 25 July 1865 | |
| Preceded by | John Alexander |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Stock |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton 10 January 1834 Naples, Two Sicilies |
| Died | 19 June 1902 (aged 68) Tegernsee, Bavaria German Empire |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse |
Countess Marie von Arco auf Valley
(m. 1865) |
| Children | 6 |
| Parent | |
| Relatives | Alex Callinicos (grandson) |
| Education | Oscott College |
| Alma mater | Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich |
| Occupation | Historian; politician |
John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton, 13th Marquess of Groppoli, KCVO, DL (10 January 1834 – 19 June 1902), better known as Lord Acton, was an English Catholic historian, politician, and writer. A strong advocate for individual liberty, Acton is best known for his timeless observation on the dangers of concentrated authority. In an 1887 letter to an Anglican bishop, he famously wrote, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,"[1] underscoring his belief that unchecked power poses the greatest threat to human freedom. His works consistently emphasized the importance of limiting governmental and institutional power in favor of individual rights and personal liberty.[2][3][4]
- ^ Letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton, April 5, 1887 Transcript of, published in Historical Essays and Studies, edited by J. N. Figgis and R. V. Laurence (London: Macmillan, 1907).
- ^ Harvey, William B. (1965). "Lord Acton: A Reappraisal". The Review of Politics. 27 (3): 379–398. doi:10.1017/S0034670500005680. JSTOR 1507914.
- ^ "Lord Acton on Liberty and Government | Mises Institute". mises.org. 5 November 2002. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- ^ "Acton's Warning Is for Everyone and All Times". John Locke Foundation. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2024.