Motley, John Lothrop (1814–1877), a United States historian. His reputation rests mainly upon The Rise of the Dutch Republic (3 volumes, 1856). A History of the United Netherlands (4 volumes, 1860–67) and The Life and Death of John of Barneveld (2 volumes, 1874) also reflect his lifelong interest in the Netherlands.

Motley was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and graduated from Harvard in 1831. He was United States minister to Austria, 1861–67, and Great Britain, 1869–70. Motley was elected to the Hall of Fame for Great Americans in 1910.