Washington IrvingWashington Irving

April 3, 1783-November 28, April 3, 1783-November 28, 18591859

ChildhoodChildhood

►Born on April 3, 1783 to Scottish-Born on April 3, 1783 to Scottish-English immigrants.English immigrants.

►Named after General George Named after General George WashingtonWashington

►He is the youngest of 11 children.He is the youngest of 11 children.

EducationEducation

►He was privately educated to become a He was privately educated to become a lawyer.lawyer.

►He passed the New York bar exam, but He passed the New York bar exam, but was not comfortable with being a lawyer.was not comfortable with being a lawyer.

►After running the family hardware After running the family hardware business in England, he turned to writing.business in England, he turned to writing.

► Irving spent several terms as the Irving spent several terms as the ambassador to Spain.ambassador to Spain.

Tragedy in LifeTragedy in Life

► Irving was set to marry Matilda Irving was set to marry Matilda Hoffmanm who died of disease at the Hoffmanm who died of disease at the age of 19. age of 19.

►This event devastated him to the point This event devastated him to the point that it was years before he could speak that it was years before he could speak about his loss.about his loss.

►He never married or had children He never married or had children because as he states in his own words, because as he states in his own words, he lost “the love of his life.”he lost “the love of his life.”

Literary CareerLiterary Career

►He is best known as the first American He is best known as the first American to make a living by solely writing.to make a living by solely writing.

►He is known as the father of the He is known as the father of the American short story.American short story.

►He is known for the comical satire of his He is known for the comical satire of his short stories.short stories.

►He is still known as the best American He is still known as the best American figure in literature both here and figure in literature both here and abroad.abroad.

Literary Career (cont.)Literary Career (cont.)

► Irving often wrote under pen names:Irving often wrote under pen names: Diedrich KnickerbockerDiedrich Knickerbocker Geoffrey Crayon, gent.Geoffrey Crayon, gent. He used these pen names to write He used these pen names to write

magazine and newspaper articles about his magazine and newspaper articles about his observances of people on the streets of observances of people on the streets of New York.New York.

The word “knickerbocker” is a term that is The word “knickerbocker” is a term that is still used to refer to a New Yorker. (Which still used to refer to a New Yorker. (Which professional sport’s team is named after professional sport’s team is named after Irving?)Irving?)

Literary Career (cont.)Literary Career (cont.)

►He published a collection of short He published a collection of short stories in a book titled stories in a book titled The Sketch The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His most famous short stories are found His most famous short stories are found

here:here:►““Rip Van Winkle”Rip Van Winkle”►““The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”

End of Life and CareerEnd of Life and Career

► Irving ended his career as an Irving ended his career as an ambassador to Spain. ambassador to Spain.

►He lived with his brother on the family He lived with his brother on the family farm, farm, SunnysideSunnyside, when he was not , when he was not overseas.overseas.

► Irving died at the farm on November Irving died at the farm on November 28, 1859 on the eve of the Civil War.28, 1859 on the eve of the Civil War.

Famous Quotes by IrvingFamous Quotes by Irving

►““A father may turn his back on his A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their desert their wives, wives their husbands. But a mother's love endures husbands. But a mother's love endures through all.”through all.”

►““Great minds have purposes; others Great minds have purposes; others have wishes.” have wishes.”