Person Detail: Washington Irving

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General Information:
Full Name: Washington Irving
Biography: (1783-1859) Author, essayist, travel writer. Irving was born at 131 William Street in New York City and later lived at 428-434 Lafayette Avenue. 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.
Author's Timeline:
1819		Greene County Rip Van Winkle The town of Leeds is the setting for this story.
1835		Westchester County Irving bought a manor in Tarrytown, New York, 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).
1783		New York County Washington Irving was born at 131 William Street in Manhattan, New York, on April 3, 1783.
1859		Westchester County Washington Irving died in Tarrytown, New York, on November 28, 1859.
1809		(Unknown) County A History of New York Mr Irving wrote his best-known work, the comic history, "A History of New York," under the pseudonym Dietrich Knickerbocker.
1819		(Unknown) County The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. Collection of short stories and essays.
1855		(Unknown) County Life of George Washington Biography in five-volumes, "Life of George Washington" (1855-1859).
1819		Columbia County The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Irving wrote "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" while staying in Kinderhook, New York.
1859		Westchester County Washington Irving was interred at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York.
?		Rensselaer County Father Knickerbocker Tales Irving wrote the "Father Knickerbocker Tales" while living at the Knickerbocker Mansion in Schaghticoke, New York.
?		New York County Mr. Irving lived at 428-434 Lafayette Avenue in New York City.