The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-12-16
Washington Irving.

Washington irving was born in tho city OF
Now York, ApriI 81, 1888. After receiving
u common school education, no commenced
tho study of law at tho age Of sixteen years.
His first appearance before tho public as a
contributor to literature was, when nineteen
years of ago, in n sorios of letters to tho
Morning Chronicle. odited by his brother,
Peter Irving. over tho signature of iona
than Oldstye" These first essays wore
much admired and attor having boon copied
into several othor newspapers, wore collected
into a small volume, which was published
without tho consent of tho author. Ills
health failing in 1904, ho sailed for Dor.
duaux, made tho tour OF Southern Europe,
crossed Switzerland to Paris, where ho ro.
maineG some months, then wont to Holland
sailed thence for England. whrro ho spont
u short season. aud returned, with restored
health. to New York in tho Spring of 1906
He resumed tho study of tho law and was
admitted to tho bar tho following autumn,
but novor practisod. His next literary
labors wero upon the ISdimdgHad,, of which
no was tho chief.
This publication first appeared in January,
1907. and hVod about IA year. Tho follow.
ing year no published his "knick korbockcr's
History of New York" In 1910 his two
brothers who waro doing q mercantile bust.
uess in New York, with branch in liver
pool, gavo him all interest in tho establish.
mont, with tho understanding that ho was
not to perform tho duties OF tho place, but
should devote himself exclusively to literary
pursuits.
In 1914 be edited tho .4natectic Mag
dz,ne, and in tho fall of tho latter yoar was
appointed Military Secretary in tho staff oi
the Governor of New York, with tho title OF
Colonel. At tho close of tho war he ON.
barked for Liverpool. with the intention OF
making second tour through Europe, bat
was prevented by tho sudden failure of the
house of his brothers. in which ho was in.
terosicd, aud which involvad tho throe in
common ruin. in 1918, then residing in
London, Mr.. Irving resorted to his pom as a
means of support. 1t was thon tho papers
of tho famous sketch Book" wero com
menccd. They were transmitted to New
York tor publication, and after the appear
anco of throo or four numbers, which at
tracted much attention in England. thoy
were published in u volume at London, in
February, 1929
| That year after q residence in England oi
five years, Mr.. lrvirg won't to Paris, where
ho remained nearly year, when he returned
to England. and published his "Bracehridgc
Hall" in London and New York. in lS23.-
Tho following winter WAS passed in Dresden
returned to Paris in 1928. and in MAY, 1924
! "rosS"d to I.nndnn. whnrn he pubHshed his
Tales of Travelor." Tho following Nv,
wears he spent in travel. and in 1926 ho tool
up his residence in Madrid, whcro no re-
NAMED Two years aud whoro no wrote the
Life of Columbus" which appeared in 1928
llo afterwards mado tour to tho south u
Spain, and in 1929 appeared his "Chronicle'
of tho Conquest of Granada" In 1882 he
| published tho "Alhanbra"
In July OF 1929 ho went to England
having received tho appointment of Secre
tary of Legation to tho American Embass,
to London. which Office he held un,il 1881
During his official residence in England, Mr.
lrving received one of tho fifty-guinca gol,
medals provided by George w.. for emi
nonce in historical composition ; also til,
degree of l.. l. D., from the University %
Oxford.
In tho Spring of 1892 ho returned to New
York, after AN nhsonco of seventeen years
y and was received with every mark OF respec
! by tho leading men of his native city ant
State. In tho summer of this yoar le nc
companied ono of tho Commissioners ap
pointed 10 remove tho Indians beyond the
Mississippi, in II tour to tho Far West. Il
was during this journey that he collected the
material for his "Tour on the Prairies.
which appeared in 1885. Tho same yea,
was published his "Abbotsford AMI NewstoaC
Abbey" and "Lcgends Of tho Conquest o
Spain" In 1886 appeared his Astoria
and the year fnlIowing "Tho Adventures o
Captain Bonneville" In 1899 no mado nj
engagement with tho Kaickerbocker Maya
zinc, which lasted two years. Without so
Letting it, Mr.. Irving received tho appoint
ment rs Minister to Spain. in 1912. whicl
position no held until 1916. In lS4S h
commenced tho publication Of revised
edition of his works which had Como out q
print. In ls49 hs published 'OIiver Gold
smith, a Biography" and in lS49 SO "Mo
homct and his Successors" His last grea
work was tho Life of Washington" 1t Wa
cmincntly appropriate that tho closing year
of long, eminent, and useful life should b
devoted to such noble tasks.-Sdnd"sk
Register.