Irving Washington

Irving, Washington (1783-1859), a famous and popular American writer, was the son of a considerable merchant of New York, where he was born. He was educated for the Bar, but being delicate made the tour of Europe from 1802 to 1806, when he returned to New York and was called to the Bar. In 1809 he brought out his History of New York (by Dietrich Knickerbocker), which established his reputation as a man of letters, and joined his brothers as partner in their mercantile firm, which, owing to the cessation of hostilities between England and the United States in 1814, became bankrupt in 1817, while Irving was in England. He then determined to devote himself to literature as a means of livelihood. Making London his headquarters, he produced during seventeen years' residence in Europe The Sketch Book, Brackenbury Hall, The Life of Columbus, Clironicles of the Conquest of Granada, and Tales of the Shannon, etc. Returning to New York in 1832, he was welcomed with acclamation, and continued his career as an elegant and popular writer. From 1842 to 1846 he was United States ambassador at Madrid. He then resided until his death at Sunnyside, a residence on the Hudson, 25 miles from New York.