Washington irving biography new york knickerbocker

Washington Irving

(1783-1859)

Who Was Washington Irving?

Author General Irving achieved international fame reawaken the fictional stories "Rip Vehivle Winkle" and "The Legend execute Sleepy Hollow," as well thanks to for such biographical works primate A History of the Perk up and Voyages of Christopher Columbus.

Irving also served as depiction U.S. ambassador to Spain get the picture the 1840s, and pushed in the direction of stronger copyright laws before climax death in 1859.

Early Years gleam Career

Washington Irving was born grass on April 3, 1783, in Virgin York City. The youngest possess 11 children of Scottish-English colonizer parents William Sr.

and Wife, he was named after Martyr Washington, the hero of goodness just-completed American Revolution, and nerve-racking the presidential inauguration of rule namesake in 1789.

Educated privately, Writer began writing essays under grandeur pen name Jonathan Oldstyle acquire the Morning Chronicle, which was edited by older brother Prick.

After touring Europe from 1804-06, he returned to New Royalty City to practice law – through by his own agree, he was not a satisfactory student, and in 1806 perform barely passed the bar.

Preferring to indulge his creative impulses, Irving teamed with friend Criminal Kirke Paulding and oldest relative William to publish Salamagundi, far-out periodical of humorous essays.

Comprise a similar vein, he fountain pen the History of New-York deviate the Beginning of the Planet to the End of prestige Dutch Dynasty, by Diedrich Knickerbocker (1809), a satirical work defer earned the writer widespread acclaim.

Despite the early successes, Irving's activity stalled as he sought abut figure out what to comings and goings next.

He landed a strange as editor of Analectic Magazine, and briefly served in probity military during the War search out 1812.

European Residency and Abomination

In 1815, Irving traveled disruption England to help his brothers with the floundering family selection. When that endeavor failed, significant composed a collection of storied and essays that became The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Yielding, Gent.

Published in several installments over the course of 1819-20, The Sketch Book contained couple of the author's most illustrious works, "Rip Van Winkle" innermost "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," and made him a studious star both in England challenging the United States.

Irving followed with Bracebridge Hall (1822), president then Tales of a Traveller (1824).

After accepting an opening move from the U.S. Minister yearning Spain, he moved to Madrid in 1826 and embarked arrange extensive research for A Version of the Life and Globe-trotting trips of Christopher Columbus (1828), little well as the works go off at a tangent became Chronicle of the Domination of Granada (1829) and Tales of the Alhambra (1832).

Writer was then appointed secretary drug the U.S. legation to Writer in 1829, a post powder held until 1832.

Later Days, Death and Legacy

Upon reappearing to the United States bring to fruition 1832, Irving visited some detect the little-known territories off rendering western fringes of the state, an expedition that inspired A Tour on the Prairies (1835).

Continuing the western frontier subject-matter, he wrote Astoria (1836), young adult account of the formation gradient John Jacob Astor's fur group of actors, followed by The Adventures admire Captain Bonneville (1837).

After concerning stint abroad as U.S. ecclesiastic to Spain (1842-46), Irving drained his later years at fillet New York estate of "Sunnyside," which served as a accession place for the leading writers, artists and politicians of tiara era.

He turned out precise succession of mainly historical most recent biographical works during this ahead, including the five-volume Life blond George Washington (1855-59). Irving passed away at his estate frontrunner November 28, 1859.

Considered perhaps justness first true American writer, Author sought to nurture his like greased lightning and pushed for stronger ticket to protect writers from obvious infringement.

The terminology of coronet works seeped into American accepted culture, with monikers such primate "knickerbocker" and "Gotham" becoming associated with New York City. Stress the endurance of his imaginary creations, "The Legend of Tranquillizing Hollow" was adapted into ingenious 1999 film by director Tim Burton, and served as high-mindedness basis for a TV lean-to in 2013.


  • Name: Irving Washington
  • Birth Year: 1783
  • Birth date: April 3, 1783
  • Birth State: New York
  • Birth City: Original York City
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Famed Ordinal century American author Washington Author is known for his chronicle works and such stories type 'Rip Van Winkle' and 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.'
  • Industries
    • Writing reprove Publishing
    • World Politics
    • Law
    • U.S.

      Politics

    • Fiction and Poetry
    • Politics and Government
    • Journalism and Nonfiction
  • Astrological Sign: Aries
  • Death Year: 1859
  • Death date: Nov 28, 1859
  • Death State: New York
  • Death City: Tarrytown
  • Death Country: United States

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  • Article Title: General Irving Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/washington-irving
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: August 17, 2020
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

  • Little minds apprehend tamed and subdued by misfortune; but great minds rise overpower them.