Irving, WASHINGTON, was born in the city of New York, April 3, 1783, and died at Tarrytown, New York, November 28, 1859. Copyright 1890 in U.S. His father's family were Scotch, by J. B. Lippincott and claimed descent from William Company. de Irwyn, secretary and armour-bearer of Robert Bruce; his mother was English, attached to the Episcopal Church, and of a loving, sunny temper. His education was scanty and desultory. His brothers were sent to college, but he showed no inclination to study, being 'a dreamer and a saunterer.' This arose in part from his tendency to pulmonary disease. He began to read law at the age of nineteen, but after two years, his health being precarious, his brothers sent him to Europe. He landed at Bordeaux in 1804, and went by Mar-seilles to Italy, escaping with difficulty from Bonaparte's police, who persisted in regarding him as an English spy. At Rome he was intoxicated by Italian art, and having met Allston, the American painter, was tempted to become an artist, but thought better of it. He visited Paris, the Netherlands, and London, where he saw John Kemble and Mrs Siddons. In 1806 he returned to New York in improved health, and was admitted to the bar. Those were 'Corinthian days,' and he led a rather idle life; much in society, and greatly admired.
His first writing was in the Salmaquundi, a semi-monthly sheet in imitation of the Spectator, conducted jointly by himself, his brother William, and J. K. Paulding. It ran for twenty numbers, and then stopped without explanation in the fullness of success. There was considerable merit of a superficial sort in those early attempts, but there was no evidence of a serious literary purpose, for the papers apparently were written with a view only to social distinction. His first characteristic work, and the one by which he will be best known to posterity, was A History of New York, by Diedrich Knickerbocker, published in 1809. All readers of English know the little man in knee-breeches and cocked hat as one of the permanent figures in the gallery of literary portraits. The History has some grains of truth, but is openly a good-natured burlesque upon the old Dutch settlers of Manhattan Island. The humour and the gravity which mask it are alike irresistible. It may be doubted if there is in the language a more delightful or more perfectly-sustained piece of drollery. Readers of Scott will remember his warm praise of the book, written while 'his sides were sore with laughing.' In the United States it was universally read; and so abiding has been the impression that it is far oftener quoted than any sober historical work. It is to the American people as real in its way as the Pilgrim's Progress.
For many years after this Irving was in partnership with his brothers in a mercantile business that had relations on both sides of the Atlantic; but in the end they were unsuccessful; and when later he had won his place among authors and was receiving a good income, he supported two of his brothers and five nieces with unselfish devotion. In May 1815 he went to Europe for the second time, and did not return for seventeen years. It was in 1818 that the misfortunes of his firm culminated in bankruptcy, and thereafter he turned his whole attention to literature. He declined liberal offers for magazine work, and would undertake nothing that was to interfere with his plans. The first number of the Sketch Book appeared in New York in 1819, and the last in 1820. It was received in the United States with universal delight. Its early success in Great Britain was largely due to the powerful support of Scott. All the pieces in this miscellany have a certain charm—if for nothing more, for their felicitous touch and purity of style. The chief interest, however, centres in 'Rip Van Winkle,' 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,' and 'Westminster Abbey.' The last is one of the most finished descriptive essays of our century, though perhaps a little lacking in simplicity. The two legendary tales are in a way related to the History of New York, and have had a currency and an influence difficult to measure. 'Rip Van Winkle' is a distinct creation of genius, and with its fellow has made the lower reach of the Hudson classic ground. For the first time there had been produced in the United States a literary work on the highest level of contemporary excellence. Bracebridge Hall (1822) fairly maintained but did not raise the author's reputation. It was scarcely necessary, for Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. was already at the summit of favour. After a few years passed on the Continent he published (1824) Tales of a
Traveller, a work which he thought his best in regard to style, but which some consider to be over-refined.
In 1826 he went to Spain and began the long and arduous studies which were the foundation of his more important serious works. These were The Life of Columbus (1828), Conquest of Granada (1829), Voyages of the Companions of Columbus (1831), The Alhambra (1832), Legends of the Conquest of Spain (1835), Mahomet and his Successors (1850). The last two or three of the works just named were only sketched or partly written before his return to the United States in 1832, but they are given together with the group of which they form part. It was Irving who first revealed to English readers the rich stores of Spanish history and romance; and whatever may be done to correct or enlarge his relations, to him must be given the praise of having produced some of the most fascinating books in existence. He had intended to write the history of the conquest of Mexico, for which he had collected materials, but generously, and to his own loss, relinquished his design to Prescott when he learned that the latter proposed to undertake it. At the end of this sojourn in Spain Irving was for a short time secretary to the United States Legation in London. On his return to his native city (1832) he was received with great enthusiasm. He declined political honours, and continued his literary work. Having made an excursion in the then Far West, he published (1835) A Tour on the Prairies. In the same year he published Reollections of Abbotsford and Newstead Abbey. He was also at work upon the last of the books in the Spanish series. In writing Astoria (1836) he was assisted by his nephew, his future biographer. The Adventures of Captain Bonneville (in the Rocky Mountains) appeared in 1837. His biography of Goldsmith was mainly written about this time, though not published until 1849. He remodelled for his own residence an old Dutch house in Tarrytown, near the scene of his legend of Sleepy Hollow. This became well known in after years under the name of Sunnyside. But his intended retirement was postponed by his appointment in 1842 as United States minister to Spain. He returned in 1846 and once more set himself to work. Goldsmith and Mahomet appeared as already mentioned; then, in 1855, Wolfer's Roost, a miscellany. His last work was the Life of George Washington (5 vols. 1855-59).
Irving was never married. In his youth he was betrothed to Miss Hoffman, a lovely young lady of eighteen, daughter of the lawyer with whom he pursued his studies. Separated from her by her untimely death, he remained all his life faithful to her memory. In his works there is to be observed a delicacy of feeling towards woman, a chivalrous deference as well as tenderness and affection. He was also exceedingly fond of children and always beloved by them. In his youth he was well made and handsome, and then, as afterwards, was always courted by the best society. Sentiment and abundant humour characterise his writings; but above all, he had the power to seize the attention of cultivated readers by his keen observation, his graphic touches of description, and his limpid and musical style. The early books which first gave him fame, and those which came from his studies in Spain, are the best, for in them his genius is conspicuous. The later productions are respectable, but would not have given him the high rank he deservedly holds. His was a fortunate and honourable life; and, on the whole, though inferior to one or two in genius, he must be pronounced thus far the most successful of the writers of the New World. His Life was written by his nephew, Pierre M. Irving (5 vols. 1862-64). There is also an excellent short biography by Charles Dudley Warner (1881).