[2][3] His maternal grandfather was Erastus Brigham Bigelow, an inventor of weaving machinery.

He obtained his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1902 and that same year published his biography of Thomas Cromwell, which he considered "as apprentice work.

[4] The course he taught on the Spanish Empire gave the impetus for his research and voluminous publication on the topic.

Its main thesis is that "the Spanish Empire, unlike its British rival, was the natural continuation of Spain's medieval history.

"In the long run, one feels, the reputation of Roger Merriman is secure in the hands of his fellow historians.