1. Washington Irving
April 3, 1783-November 28, 1859

2. Childhood Born on April 3, 1783 to Scottish-English immigrants.
Named after General George Washington
He is the youngest of 11 children.

3. Education He was privately educated to become a lawyer.
He passed the New York bar exam, but was not comfortable with being a lawyer.
After running the family hardware business in England, he turned to writing.
Irving spent several terms as the ambassador to Spain.

4. Tragedy in Life
Irving was set to marry Matilda Hoffmanm who died of disease at the age of 19.
This event devastated him to the point that it was years before he could speak about his loss.
He never married or had children because as he states in his own words, he lost “the love of his life.”

5. Literary Career
He is best known as the first American to make a living by solely writing.
He is known as the father of the American short story.
He is known for the comical satire of his short stories.
He is still known as the best American figure in literature both here and abroad.

6. Literary Career (cont.)
Irving often wrote under pen names:
Diedrich Knickerbocker
Geoffrey Crayon, gent.
He used these pen names to write magazine and newspaper articles about his observances of people on the streets of New York.
The word “knickerbocker” is a term that is still used to refer to a New Yorker. (Which professional sport’s team is named after Irving?)

7. Literary Career (cont.)
He published a collection of short stories in a book titled The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.
His most famous short stories are found here:
“Rip Van Winkle”
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”

8. End of Life and Career
Irving ended his career as an ambassador to Spain.
He lived with his brother on the family farm, Sunnyside, when he was not overseas.
Irving died at the farm on November 28, 1859 on the eve of the Civil War.

9. Famous Quotes by Irving
“A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands. But a mother's love endures through all.”
“Great minds have purposes; others have wishes.”