Louis Reichenthal Gottschalk (February 21, 1899 – June 23, 1975[1][2]) was an American historian, an expert on the Marquis de Lafayette and the French Revolution.

He taught at the University of Chicago, where he was the Gustavus F. and Ann M. Swift Distinguished Service Professor of History.

[5] During World War I, he served as an apprentice seaman from October 4, 1918, to November 11, 1918, a total of thirty eight days, at the Naval Unit at Cornell in Ithaca, New York.

[2] In 1927, he joined the University of Chicago, where he was promoted to full professor in 1935, and chaired the history department from 1937 to 1942.

He books include seven volumes on the Marquis de Lafayette[3][5] and several books on modern history and revolutions, including:[5] Gottschalk met poet Laura Riding, then known by her maiden name, Laura Reichenthal, while she was a student and graduate assistant at Cornell University.