Título: James Fenimore Cooper
Seção: Early life and family
Background: James Fenimore Cooper (September 15, 1789 - September 14, 1851) was a prolific and popular American writer of the first half of the 19th century. His historical romances draw a picture of frontier and American Indian life in the early American days which created a unique form of American literature. He lived most of his life in Cooperstown, New York, which was founded by his father William on property that he owned. Cooper was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church and contributed generously to it.

Conteúdo: James Fenimore Cooper was born in Burlington, New Jersey in 1789 to William Cooper and Elizabeth (Fenimore) Cooper, the eleventh of 12 children, most of whom died during infancy or childhood. He was descended from James Cooper of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, who immigrated to the American colonies in 1679.  Shortly after James' first birthday, his family moved to Cooperstown, New York, a community founded by his father on a large piece of land which he had bought for development. Later, his father was elected to the United States Congress as a representative from Otsego County. Their town was in a central area of New York that had previously been occupied by the Iroquois, who had allied themselves with the British during the Revolutionary War and were forced to cede the territory after British defeat. The State of New York opened the land for sale and development after the war, and Cooper's father purchased several thousand acres in upstate along the headwaters of the Susquehanna River. By 1788, William Cooper had selected and surveyed the site where Cooperstown would be established. He erected a home on the shore of Otsego lake and moved his family there in the autumn of 1790. He soon began construction of the mansion that became known as Otsego Hall, completed in 1799 when James was ten.  Cooper was enrolled at Yale University at age 13, but he incited a dangerous prank which involved blowing up another student's door -- after having already locked a donkey i

user: Where was he born

assistant: James Fenimore Cooper was born in Burlington, New Jersey

user: What year and to whom was he born

assistant: 1789 to William Cooper and Elizabeth (Fenimore) Cooper,

user: How many children did they have

assistant: eleventh of 12 children, most of whom died during infancy or childhood.

user: Who was he related to

assistant: He was descended from James Cooper of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, who immigrated to the American colonies in 1679.

user: What happened to him as a boy

assistant: Shortly after James' first birthday, his family moved to Cooperstown, New York, a community founded by his father on a large piece of land which he had bought for development.

user: What was the family elected for

assistant: Later, his father was elected to the United States Congress as a representative from Otsego County.

user: What was special about the towns location

assistant: representative from Otsego County. Their town was in a central area of New York that had previously been occupied by the Iroquois,

user: Who did they side with

assistant: who had allied themselves with the British during the Revolutionary War and were forced to cede the territory after British defeat.

user: What did the state do

assistant: The State of New York opened the land for sale and development after the war, and Cooper's father purchased several thousand acres