Washington+Irving

= Washington Irving =

April 3, 1783 - November 28, 1859
Washington Irving was born in New York City at the end of the Revolutionary War on April 3, 1783. His parents, who were admirers of the revolutionary hero George Washington, named their son after him. He had ten other siblings, but three of them died at birth.

He had quite a few interests during his life. Some of these included writing, traveling, and negotiating. He is most famous for being the first American to make a constant salary from writing alone. At first, he wrote under fake names. His most famous Diedrich Knickerbocker. In 1809, under this name, Irving created //A History of New York// that described and made jokes about the lives of the early Dutch settlers that lived in Manhattan. Over time, this name began to mean an actual man from New York. From this is where the basketball team The New York Knickerbockers received their name.

Famous Works

 * //Adventure of Captain Bonneville, The//
 * //Broken Heart, The//
 * //Legend of Sleepy Hollow, The//
 * //Little Christmas//
 * //Rip Van Winkle//

Achievements

 * 1) Irving was the first American literary humorist.
 * 2) He wrote the first modern short stories.
 * 3) He is the first writer to compose history and biography as entertainment.
 * 4) He was the first belletrist in American literature.
 * 5) He presented the nonfiction prose as a literary genre.


 * Relationships**

Washington Irving only had one love in his life. He was suppose to was marry Matilda Hoffmann, but she died before they ever could. She died while she was only 17 on April 26, 1809. He never tried to be in another relationship after her devastating death.


 * Education**

He went to elementary school until he was of the age of 16, although he did not succeed very well through his education. He was then interested in law and studied it, but never pursued the occupation.


 * Author's Ridge**

Author's Ridge is the famous cemetery located in the legendary Sleepy Hallow. Not only is Washington Irving buried here but other famous writers such as Ralph Waldo Emererson are as well.

Death
Eight months after Washington Irving completed the last book of his Washington Biography, he died of a heart attack at the age of 76. He died on his bed in Sunnyside, NY On November 28, 1859.They say his final words were: " Well, I must arrange my pillow for another weary night! If this could only end!"

**RESOURCES** http://www.hudsonvalley.org/education/Background/abt_irving/abt_irving.html http://kirjasto.sci.fi/wirving.htm http://www.footnote.com/page/93491548_washington_irving/ http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap3/irving.html http://www.newenglandtravelplanner.com/go/ma/boston_west/concord/sights/authors_ridge.html