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Washington Irving

Biography

Washington Irving

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Overview

  • Born
    April 3, 1783 · New York City, New York, USA
  • Died
    November 28, 1859 · Tarrytown, New York, USA (undisclosed)
  • Nickname
    • "The First American Man of Letters"

Biography

    • Washington Irving (April 3, 1783 - November 28, 1859) was an American short-story writer, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century. He is best known for his short stories "Rip Van Winkle" (1819) and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" (1820), both of which appear in his collection The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His historical works include biographies of Oliver Goldsmith, Muhammad and George Washington, as well as several histories of 15th-century Spain that deal with subjects such as Alhambra, Christopher Columbus and the Moors. Irving served as American ambassador to Spain in the 1840s.
      - IMDb mini biography by: Bonitao

Trivia

  • He was named after Revolutionary War general and first President George Washington.
  • Born at 8:30pm-LMT
  • Pictured on the 1¢ US postage stamp in the Famous American/Authors series, issued 29 January 1940.
  • Elected to the Hall of Fame for Great Americans in 1900 (inaugural election).

Quotes

  • A sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use.
  • They who drink beer will think beer.
  • Great minds have purposes; little minds have wishes. Little minds are subdued by misfortunes; great minds rise above them.
  • I've had it with you and your emotional constipation!
  • There is a certain relief in change, even though it be from bad to worse; as I have found in traveling in a stage-coach, that it is often a comfort to shift one's position and be bruised in a new place.

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