Person Detail: Washington Irving
| General Information: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full Name: Washington Irving | ||
| Biography: Author, essayist, travel writer. Irving was born at 131 William Street in New York City and later lived at 428-434 Lafayette Ave. One of the legends of American literature, Irving bought a manor in Tarrytown in 1835, called Sunnyside. Irving maintained the residence for over 20 years, living there between 1835-1842 and then again from 1848-1859 (the intervening years were spent as U.S. Ambassador to Spain). Irving wrote short stories, essays, volumes of history, travel books, etc. His best-known works include the comic history "A History of New York" (1809), under the pseudonym Dietrich Knickerbocker; "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent." (1819-20); and the five-volume "Life of George Washington" (1855-59). Irving was also the author of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle," two famous American folk-tales. Leeds is the setting for the story "Rip Van Winkle." Sunnyside still stands today and has been transformed into a museum. He died at Sunnyside and is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, near the Old Dutch Church on Broadway. |
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| Life Events: | ||
| Year: 1783 | Event: BIRTH |
New York County Irving was born at 131 William Street in New York City. |
| Year: 1809 | Event: LITWORK |
(Unknown) County "A History of New York" His best-known work the comic history "A History of New York" under the pseudonym Dietrich Knickerbocker; |
| Year: 1819 | Event: LITWORK |
Greene County "Rip Van Winkle" The town of Leeds is the setting for this story. |
| Year: 1819 | Event: LITWORK |
(Unknown) County "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent." |
| Year: 1819 | Event: LITWORK |
Columbia County "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" Irving wrote "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" while staying in Kinderhook. |
| Year: 1835 | Event: RESIDENCE |
Westchester County Irving bought a manor in Tarrytown in 1835, called Sunnyside. Irving maintained the residence for over 20 years, living there between 1835-1842 and then again from 1848-1859 (the intervening years were spent as U.S. Ambassador to Spain). |
| Year: 1855 | Event: LITWORK |
(Unknown) County "Life of George Washington" Five-volume "Life of George Washington" (1855-59) |
| Year: 1859 | Event: DEATH |
Westchester County Irving died in Tarrytown, New York, in 1859. |
| Year: ? | Event: LITWORK |
Rensselaer County "Father Knickerbocker Tales" Irving wrote the "Father Knickerbocker Tales" while living at the Knickerbocker Mansion in Schaghticoke. |
| Year: ? | Event: RESIDENCE |
New York County Irving lived at 428-434 Lafayette Avenue in New York City. |
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