Irving, Washington: 1783-1859
Information about Washington Irving
- General Information
- Facts
- In 1807, Irving became a member of a social and literary club known as the "lads of Kilkenny" or the "nine worthies," with two of whom Irving wrote Salmagundi, a literary "stew" consisting of satirical essays on the social scene in New York and its environs. In an essay he wrote for it, he referred to New York City as "the renowned and ancient city of Gotham." As far as anybody can tell, this was the first time the word "Gotham" had been used to describe New York. The original Gotham (pron. 'goat ham'), in England, was a village legendary for the remarkable stupidity of its inhabitants. The mad/wise men feigned madness as an early tax-avoidance scheme. Actually there are two towns that lay claims to the tales, Gotham in Nottinghamshire and Gotham in Sussex.
- Biography
- Biography from the National Endowment for the Humanities
- Brief biography read by Deborah Marolf. Can be used as listening comprehension exercise
- TranscriptWashington Irving was born on April 3, 1783 in New York, as the youngest of 11 children. The British troops had just evacuated the city and the US forces assumed possession. Mrs. Irving said, "General Washington's work is ended and the child shall be named after him." Some six years later, when the first American president returned to New York, then the seat of government, a Scotch maid-servant of the family finding herself and the child by chance in the presence of Washington, presented the boy to him. "Please, your honor," said Lizzie, "here's a bairn (a child) was named after you." And President Washington gravely laid his hand upon the head of his future biographer and blessed him.
Washington Irving was born into a well-to-do family, yet his education was non-methodical, and his schooling ended at sixteen. Yet he read, and read intelligently, becoming familiar with the best, especially books of travel, and adventure. He also walked about the city and along the waterside, his mind apparently stirred by the sight of the shipping and the romantic suggestions of foreign lands.
Nevertheless young Irving settled down more or less seriously to a professional career. He began the study of law.
In 1798, he thoroughly explored that idyllic region of Sleepy Hollow, north of New York City, afterward immortalized in the Sketch-Book.
Irving enjoyed visiting different places and a large part of his life - from 1815 to 1832 - was spent in Europe, particularly England, France, Germany, and Spain. By the late 1820s, Irving had gained a reputation throughout Europe and America as a great writer and thinker.
In 1832 Irving returned from Europe to New York where he established his home Sunnyside in Tarrytown. Irving never married or had children.
On November 28, 1859, on the eve of the Civil War, Washington Irving died at Sunnyside. He was buried in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery at the Old Dutch Church in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.
Washington Irving is best known for "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," in which the schoolmaster Ichabold Crane meets with a headless horseman, and "Rip Van Winkle," about a man who falls asleep for 20 years.
- Transcript
- Bibliography and e-books to download
- Articles
- Father of the American Short Story: "He made short fiction popular; stripped the prose tale of its didactic elements and made it a literary form solely for entertainment." Esther Lombardi; January 30, 2020
- Washington Irving created humane characters: simple, honest, vulnerable, average. Andrew Burstein, Louisiana State University
- How Washington Irving Shaped Christmas in America: "Among Irving’s biggest contributions to Christmas in America was his promotion of St. Nicholas as a beloved character, laying the groundwork for the figure we’d eventually embrace as Santa Claus." The National Endowment for the Humanities; Fall 2016