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First American to achieve an international literary reputation
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Born in NYC on April 3, 1783
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Youngest of 11 children
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Named after George Washington
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First work published at 19; a collection of satirical essays printed in his brother’s newspaper
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Showed signs of tuberculosis in 1804; traveled to Europe for 2 years
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Began studying law under Judge Josiah Hoffman; After the death of fiancé Matilda –
Judge Hoffman’s daughter – he gives up on becoming a lawyer
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Started the satirical magazine Salmagundi with his brother William and a brother-in-law
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1809: Publishes A History of New York from the Beginning of the World to the End of the
Dutch Dynasty o A satirical history mocking another published traveler’s guide o Targeted numerous political and social figures, including Pres. Jackson as Dutch
Governor of New Amsterdam, “William the Testy” o Writing credit given to the fictional Diedrich Knickerbocker, who later became one of Irving’s most famous narrative voices o Launched the book with a fictional “search” for the “missing” Knickerbocker as covered by local newspapers
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Made a colonel in the New York State Militia during the War of 1812; worked as editor of a magazine, sometimes publishing his own biographical sketches of American naval officers
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While traveling in Europe he met Sir Walter Scott, the most popular European author of the era, who encouraged him to look to European folklore for his inspiration
 Worked for his family’s business for a time; finally decided to try to live as an author
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1817: Publishes The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. (1819-1820) o Written under the new pseudonym Geoffrey Crayon

o Includes the short stories “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” based on German folktales o Became an international success and was credited with being the FIRST true example of American literature
 Created the archetypal figure of the “successful failure” in Rip Van Winkle, a character in whom many modern characters would find their roots
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Sarcastic wit – making fun of the past while benefiting from its success – is a mainstay in American culture
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1 st literature to make readers aware of the beauty of the American landscape
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Generous to up-and-coming writers; supervised the printing of Bryant’s poems in London
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Appointed minister to Spain in 1842
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Spent the remainder of his life working on an extensive, five volume biography of
George Washington o Died just after finishing the final volume in November 1859
** SATIRE: A type of writing that mocks the shortcomings of people or institutions in an attempt to bring about change