William Milligan Sloane (1846–1928) was a distinguished American historian and professor. He received his education at Columbia University and later studied in Germany, where he specialized in the study of modern European history. Sloane had a long and influential career as a professor, teaching at both Princeton University and Columbia University, where he held the Seth Low Professorship in History.
Sloane's work was characterized by a meticulous approach to research and a dedication to primary sources. His biography of Napoleon was the result of years of exhaustive study and travel. He was one of the first historians to have access to a wealth of unpublished Napoleonic documents, which allowed him to provide a fresh and authoritative perspective on the man. While his interpretations have been debated by later historians, his work on Napoleon remains a classic for its comprehensive scope and its contribution to the field of Napoleonic studies.
