John Codman Ropes

John Codman Ropes (1836–1899) was an esteemed American military historian and lawyer whose scholarly work remains a reference for students of Napoleonic history. Graduating from Harvard in 1856, Ropes pursued a career in law, but his poor eyesight precluded him from serving in the Union Army during the Civil War. This inability to serve directly in the military deeply influenced his later work. Ropes co-founded the law firm Ropes & Gray, but his passion for history led him to pen several authoritative volumes on military conflicts. His work, 'The History of Waterloo' stands as a notable achievement, reflecting his meticulous research standards and his reliance on first-hand accounts to provide an in-depth analysis of the Battle of Waterloo. Ropes' legal acumen lent itself to a precise and analytical literary style which, coupled with his insistence on objectivity, provided an invaluable perspective on military strategy and the unfolding of historical events. His contributions to the historical canon extend beyond this single work, with other analyses that dissect significant military campaigns and figures, thereby solidifying his place amongst the notable historical scholars of his time.