George Willis Botsford

George Willis Botsford (May 9, 1862, West Union, Iowa – December 13, 1917, New York City) was an American classicist, ancient historian, and professor of history, specializing in Greek and Roman history. He is known for his textbooks on Greek and Roman history.[1]

Botsford graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 1884 with an A.B. and in 1889 with an A.M.[2][3] From 1884 to 1886 he studied at Johns Hopkins University. From 1886 to 1890 he was a professor of Greek at Kalamazoo College. In 1891 he graduated with a Ph.D. from Cornell University. His Ph.D. dissertation The Development of the Athenian Constitution was published in 1893.[1][4]

From 1891 to 1893 he was an instructor at Worcester Academy. From 1893 to 1895 he was a professor of Greek at Bethany College in West Virginia. At Harvard University he was an instructor from 1895 to 1901. At Columbia University he was from 1902 to 1903 a lecturer in ancient history, from 1903 to 1905 an instructor, from 1905 to 1910 an adjunct professor, and from 1910 a full professor, retaining his professorship until his death.[1] In 1917 Botsford died suddenly in his office at Columbia University.[5]

For many years Botsford was on the editorial board of the Political Science Quarterly.[2][1] He published articles in the Classical Review, The American Historical Review, The Nation, and the Encyclopaedia Britannica.[2] His textbooks on Greek and Roman history gained prominence in secondary schools and colleges.[6] In connection with his scholarly research he travelled to Italy and Greece.[2]

He married Lillie M. Shaw on August 30, 1891[1] in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They had a son and a daughter.[2] Their son, Jay Barrett Botsford (1893–1938), became a history professor at Brown University.