American author, born at Walton, Delaware County, NY, on the 30th of December 1813. After graduating at Union College in 1839, he studied theology at Auburn Theological Seminary, and became pastor of a church at Stockbridge, MA. Ill-health soon obliged him to give up pastoral work. In 1842 he went to Europe, and on his return published Letters from Italy and the Alps and the Rhine; after this, numerous works, mostly on historical subjects and popular in character: Napoleon and His Marshals (1846); Washington and His Generals (1847); The Adirondacks (1849), in which he made this region known to the world; Second War between England and the United States (1853); Life of General Havelock (1859); Sacred Heroes and Martyrs (1865); Grant and Sherman (1865); Great Rebellion (1866); Farragut and our Naval Commanders (1867); Life of U. S. Grant (1868); The Achievements of Stanley and Other African Explorers (1877). He was assistant editor of the New York Tribune in 1846, and in 1855 was elected Secretary of State of New York. He died at Newburgh, NY, on the 16th of January 1897.
