(October 25, 1800–December 28, 1859), was an English statesman, essayist, historian and poet. He was a member of Parliament, 1830–56, an eloquent debater, and he served on the Supreme Council in India. His writings were highly popular, as he made historical figures come alive with a vivid style. His works include the Lays of Ancient Rome and The History of England from the Accession of James II, 5 vols., 1849–61.
In his piece entitled, On John Dryden, 1828, Lord Macaulay stated:
The English Bible—a book which if everything else in our language should perish, would alone suffice to show the whole extent of its beauty and power.2171
In 1830, while commenting on Southey’s edition of John Bunyan’s classic book, Pilgrim’s Progress, Lord Macaulay said:
That wonderful book, while it obtains admiration from the most fastidious critics, is loved by those who are too simple to admire it.2172
In On Lord Bacon, 1837, Lord Macaulay concluded:
To sum up the whole, we should say that the aim of the Platonic philosophy was to exalt man into a god.2173