Person Detail: Washington Irving

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General Information: | ||
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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. |
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Author's Timeline: | ||
1819 |
Greene County Rip Van Winkle The town of Leeds is the setting for this story. |
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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). |
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1783 |
New York County Washington Irving was born at 131 William Street in Manhattan, New York, on April 3, 1783. |
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1859 |
Westchester County Washington Irving died in Tarrytown, New York, on November 28, 1859. |
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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. |
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1819 |
(Unknown) County The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. Collection of short stories and essays. |
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1855 |
(Unknown) County Life of George Washington Biography in five-volumes, "Life of George Washington" (1855-1859). |
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1819 |
Columbia County The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Irving wrote "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" while staying in Kinderhook, New York. |
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1859 |
Westchester County Washington Irving was interred at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York. |
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Rensselaer County Father Knickerbocker Tales Irving wrote the "Father Knickerbocker Tales" while living at the Knickerbocker Mansion in Schaghticoke, New York. |
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New York County Mr. Irving lived at 428-434 Lafayette Avenue in New York City. |
