Sir Archibald Alison, Bart., a British historian, eldest son of the preceding, born at Ken-ley, Shropshire, Dec. 29, 1792, died near Glasgow, May 23, 1867. He was educated in the schools and university of Edinburgh, was called to the bar in 1814, and availed himself of the first income from his practice to travel in Europe. In 1822 he was appointed deputy advocate general, in 1828 member of the crown council, and in 1834 sheriff of Lanarkshire. His first publication was a work on the "Principles of the Criminal Law of Scotland " (1832), followed the next year by the "Practice of the Criminal Law." These books became standard authorities with the Scottish bar. The first volume of his "History of Europe, from the Commencement of the French Revolution to the Restoration of the Bourbons," appeared in 1839, and the work was completed in 10 volumes in 1842. It ran through numerous editions in England, in 12, 14, and 20 volumes, was reprinted in America, and translated into French and German, and even into Arabic (Malta, 1845) and Hindostanee. The author is said to have conceived the plan of this history in his youth, and to have cherished his purpose during 15 years of travel and study, and 15 more of composition.

The author was a stanch tory, and his work is considered deficient both in accuracy and impartiality by the English liberals. Mr. Alison for many years contributed articles to "Blackwood's Magazine," a selection of which was published under the title of "Essays, Political, Historical, and Miscellaneous" (3 vols., 1850). He also wrote " Principles of Population" (2 vols., 1840), combating the theory of Malthus; "England in 1815 and 1845, or a Sufficient or Contracted Currency " (1845); and a "Life of the Duke of Marlborough" (2 vols., 1847). He wrote a continuation of his "History of Europe " to the accession of Louis Napoleon in 1852, of which a second edition was published at Edinburgh in 8 vols. (1863-5). Mr. Alison was elected rector of Glasgow university in 1851, and received the honorary degree of D. 0. L. from the university of Oxford; and soon after the formation of the Derby-Disraeli ministry, June 25, 1852, he was created a baronet.