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OCTOBER

Henry St. John, Viscount Bolingbroke, a distinguished English statesman, author, and orator, was born at Battersea, October 1, 1678, and died there, December 12, 1751. His principal works are: “Letters on the Spirit of Patriotism,” “Letters on the Study of History,” “The Idea of a Patriot King,” and “A Dissertation on Parties.”

Rufus Choate, an eminent American lawyer, orator and statesman, was born at Essex, Mass., October 1, 1799, and died at Halifax, N. S., July 13, 1859. His “Works” (2 vols.) were published in 1863.

Theodore Tilton, a noted American journalist, lecturer, editor, and verse-writer, was born in New York City, October 2, 1835, and died in 1907. He wrote: “Thou and I,” “The Sexton’s Tale, and Other Poems,” “Suabian Stories,” “Tempest-Tossed,” “Sanctum Sanctorum: or An Editor’s Proof Sheets,” etc.

George Bancroft, a famous American historian and statesman, was born in Worcester, Mass., October 3, 1800, and died in Washington, D. C., January 17, 1891. His most famous work is the “History of the United States.”

Pasquale Villari, a distinguished Italian historian, was born at Naples, October 3, 1827, and died in 1914. His principal works are: “Niccolo Machiavelli and His Times,” “Ancient Legends and Traditions Illustrating the Divine Comedy,” “Essays Critical, Historical and Literary,” “Teaching History,” “The School and the Social Question in Italy.”

FranÇois Guizot, an illustrious French historian and statesman, was born at NÎmes, October 4, 1787, and died at Val Richer, near Lisieux, September 12, 1874. He wrote: “History of the English Revolution,” “Corneille and his Time,” “The History of Civilization in Europe,” “The History of Civilization in France,” “Memoirs,” “Shakespeare and His Times,” “History of France for my Grandchildren,” etc.

Jonathan Edwards, a famous American divine and theological writer, was born in East Windsor, Conn., October 5, 1703, and died at Princeton, N. J., March 22, 1758. Among his works may be mentioned: “The Great Christian Doctrine of Original Sin Defended,” “An Inquiry into the Modern Prevailing Notions Respecting that Freedom of the Will which Is Supposed to Be Essential to Moral Agency,” “A Dissertation Concerning the End for which God Created the World,” and “The Nature of True Virtue.”

Denis Diderot, a famous French philosopher and encyclopÆdist, was born at Langres, October 5, 1713, and died July 31, 1784. He wrote: “Philosophic Reflections,” “A Skeptic’s Walk,” “The Nun,” “Rameau’s Nephew,” “Little Papers,” etc.

Horace Walpole, a famous English author and letter-writer, was born in London, October 5, 1717, and died there March 2, 1797. His works include: “Anecdotes of Painters in England,” “The Castle of Otranto,” “Historic Doubts on the Life and Reign of Richard III,” “The Mysterious Mother,” “Memoirs of the Last Ten Years of the Reign of George II,” etc. His chief fame rests upon his celebrated letters, 9 vols., which were published in 1857-59.

John Addington Symonds, a distinguished English critic and historian of literature, was born at Bristol, October 5, 1840, and died at Rome, April 19, 1893. He wrote: “Studies of the Greek Poets,” “Sketches in Italy and Greece,” “Introduction to the Study of Dante,” “Shakespeare’s Predecessors,” “Sketches and Studies in Italy,” and his greatest work: “The Renaissance in Italy.”

George Henry Boker, a noted American poet and dramatist, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., October 6, 1823, and died there January 2, 1890. His plays include: “Anne Boleyn,” “The Betrothed,” “Calaynos,” “All the World’s a Mask,” and “Francesca da Rimini.” Also, “Poems of the War,” “Sonnets,” “KÖnigsmark and Other Poems,” etc.

James Whitcomb Riley, a celebrated American poet, was born at Greenfield, Ind., October 7, 1853, and died July 22, 1916. Among his writings are: “The Old Swimmin’ Hole and ’Leven More Poems,” “Green Fields and Running Brooks,” “Child Rhymes,” “Love Lyrics,” “The Golden Year,” “Songs of Summer,” “The Rose,” “The Riley Baby Book,” “Songs of Friendship,” “Songs of Cheer,” “Old Schoolday Romances,” “Songs of Home,” “Down Around the River and Other Poems,” “A Summer’s Day and Other Poems,” “All the Year Round,” “Knee-Deep in June and Other Poems,” “The Prayer-Perfect and Other Poems,” “A Song of Long Ago,” “When My Dreams Come True,” “Away,” “Do They Miss Me?” “Friendship,” etc.

John Hay, a famous American poet and prose-writer, was born in Salem, Ind., October 8, 1838, and died in 1905. His literary fame rests on his famous “Pike County Ballads.”

Edmund Clarence Stedman, a distinguished American man of letters, was born in Hartford, Conn., October 8, 1833, and died in 1908. He wrote: “Nature and Elements of Poetry,” “Poets of America,” “Victorian Anthology,” “Victorian Poets,” “Poems Now First Collected,” etc.

Elizabeth Akers Allen, a noted American poet, was born at Strong, Me., October 9, 1832, and died in 1911. She wrote: “The Silver Bridge and Other Poems,” and a volume of “Poems,” the best known among them being: “Rock Me to Sleep, Mother.”

George Pope Morris, a celebrated American journalist and song-writer, was born in Philadelphia, October 10, 1802, and died in New York City, July 6, 1864. He wrote: “Poems,” “The Little Frenchman,” “Briercliff,” and his famous song, “Woodman Spare That Tree.”

Hugh Miller, a distinguished Scottish geologist, was born at Cromarty, October 11, 1802, and died near Edinburgh, December 2, 1856. His most notable works are: “The Old Red Sandstone,” “Footprints of the Creator,” “Testimony of the Rocks,” “Poems,” “Scenes and Legends of the North of Scotland,” etc.

George Washington Cable, a famous American novelist, was born in New Orleans, La., October 12, 1844. He has written: “The Silent South,” “The Creoles of Louisiana,” “Old Creole Days,” “Dr. Sevier,” “Strange True Stories of Louisiana,” “The Busy Man’s Bible,” “John March, Southerner,” “The Negro Question,” “Strong Hearts,” “Kincaid’s Battery,” “Gideon’s Band,” “The Amateur Garden,” etc.

William Motherwell, a Scottish poet and antiquary of great fame, was born at Glasgow, October 13, 1797, and died there, November 1, 1835. His most famous works are: “Minstrelsy, Ancient and Modern,” and “Poems, Narrative and Lyrical.”

Thomas Haynes Bayly, a noted English poet and novelist, was born in Bath, October 13, 1797, and died at Cheltenham, April 22, 1839. He wrote 36 dramas, including among them: “The Aylmers,” “Perfection,” and “The Legend of Killarney.”

William Penn, a distinguished writer, and the founder of Pennsylvania, was born at London, October 14, 1644, and died July 30, 1718. Among his notable works were: “A Sandy Foundation Shaken,” “Truth Exalted,” “No Cross, No Crown,” “Reasonableness of Toleration,” and “Primitive Christianity Revived in the Faith and Practice of the People Called Quakers.”

Thomas Osborne Davis, a famous Irish poet and journalist was born in Mallow, County Cork, October 14, 1814, and died in Dublin, September 15, 1845. His “Poems” and his “Literary and Historical Essays” were collected in 1846.

Allan Ramsay, an eminent Scottish poet, was born in Leadhills, Lanarkshire, October 15, 1686, and died in Edinburgh, January 7, 1758. His most noted works are: “Fables and Tales,” “Tartana; or, The Plaid,” “The Evergreen,” “Fair Assembly,” “The Tea-Table Miscellany,” “Health,” “Thirty Fables,” and “Gentle Shepherd,” his most celebrated work.

Oscar Wilde, a famous Irish poet and author, was born in Dublin, October 15, 1856, and died in 1900. Among his works are: “Poems,” “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” “The Happy Prince and Other Tales,” etc.; also three noted plays: “Lady Windermere’s Fan,” “A Woman of No Importance,” and “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

John Tillotson, a distinguished English archbishop, was born in Sowerby, Yorkshire, October 16, 1630, and died in London, November 22, 1694. His manuscript sermons were published after his death, with the “Rule of Faith,” by Ralph Barker.

Noah Webster, the eminent American lexicographer and journalist, was born at West Hartford, Conn., October 16, 1758, and died in New Haven, May 28, 1843. He published “Sketches of American Policy,” “Philosophical and Practical Grammar of the English Language,” “A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language,” and his magnum opus, “American Dictionary of the English Language.”

Sir John Bowring, a famous English author and diplomat, was born in Exeter, October 17, 1792, and died there, November 23, 1872. Among his writings are: “Specimens of the Polish Poets,” “Specimens of the Russian Poets,” “Ancient Poetry and Romances of Spain,” “Servian Popular Poetry,” “The Flowery Scroll: A Chinese Novel,” “The Kingdom and People of Siam,” “Cheskian Anthology,” and “A Visit to the Philippine Islands.”

Frederic Harrison, a renowned English essayist, and publicist, was born in London, October 18, 1831. He wrote: “Order and Progress,” “The Study of History,” “Oliver Cromwell,” “The Meaning of History,” “Choice of Books,” “Annals of an Old Manor House,” “Chatham,” “Life of Ruskin,” “Memories and Thoughts,” “Carlyle and the London Library,” “My Alpine Jubilee,” “National and Social Problems,” “Among My Books,” “The Positive Evolution of Religion,” “Autobiographic Memoirs,” “The German Peril,” “On Society,” “Jurisprudence and Conflict of Nations,” “Obiter Scripta,” “Novissima Verba,” etc.

Helen Fiske Jackson (“H. H.”), a noted American poet and miscellaneous writer, was born October 18, 1831, and died in 1885. Among her publications are: “Poems,” “Bits of Talk,” “Hetty’s Strange History,” “A Century of Dishonor,” and “Ramona,” her most famous work.

Sir Thomas Browne, a celebrated English antiquary and physician, was born in London, October 19, 1605, and died in 1682. His principal work is “Religio Medici.” After his death a collection of his fugitive pieces was published, followed by “Christian Morals,” a collection of aphorisms.

John Adams, an illustrious American statesman and publicist, and second President of the United States, was born at Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts, October 19, 1735, and died there, July 4, 1826. His most celebrated work was: “Defence of the Constitution and Government of the United States.”

Leigh Hunt, a famous English poet, critic, and essayist, was born in Southgate, October 19, 1784; and died at Putney, August 28, 1859. The most important of his works are: “The Story of Rimini,” “Recollections of Byron,” “A Legend of Florence,” and “Sir Ralph Esher.”

Robert Pollok, a noted Scottish poet, was born at North Moorhouse, Renfrewshire, October 19, 1798, and died September 17, 1827. He published “Tales of the Covenanters,” and his famous poem, “The Course of Time.”

Thomas Hughes, a celebrated English essayist and story-writer, was born at Donnington Priory, near Newbury, October 20, 1823, and died in 1896. He wrote: “Our Old Church: What Shall We Do With It?” “Rugby,” “The Manliness of Christ,” and his two celebrated works, “Tom Brown’s School Days,” and “Tom Brown at Oxford.”

George Colman, the Younger, a famous English dramatist and humorous poet, was born in London (?), October 21, 1762, and died there October 17, 1836. He wrote: “Broad Grins,” “Poetic Vagaries,” etc. Among his comedies are: “The Iron Chest,” “John Bull,” and “The Heir-at-Law.”

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a renowned English poet and philosopher, was born at Ottery, St. Mary, Devonshire, October 21, 1772, and died July 25, 1834. Among his famous works are: “Fall of Robespierre” (a play), “Moral and Political Lecture Delivered at Bristol,” “Conciones ad Populum,” “The Plot Discovered,” “Poems on Various Subjects,” “The Destiny of Nations,” “Ode to the Departing Year,” “Pears in Solitude,” “Wallenstein,” “Remorse, a Tragedy,” “Biographia Literaria,” “Aids to Reflection,” etc. “The Ancient Mariner,” was published in 1798, in a volume of “Lyrical Ballads,” with Wordsworth.

Alphonse Marie Louis de Lamartine, an eminent French poet, was born at Milly, near Macon, October 21, 1790, and died at Passy, March 1, 1869. His greatest works were: “Poetic and Religious Harmonies,” “Jocelyn,” “Poetical Meditations,” “New Poetical Meditations,” “History of the Girondins,” “The Fall of an Angel,” “Confidences,” “New Confidences,” and the “History of the Restoration.”

Samuel Francis Smith, a noted American clergyman and hymn-writer, was born in Boston, October 21, 1808, and died in 1895. He wrote: “Mythology and Early Greek History,” “Knights and Sea Kings,” “Poor Boys Who Became Great,” and his famous hymn, “America.”

Sir Philip Francis, a celebrated Irish-English public man and writer, was born in Dublin, October 22, 1740, and died in London, December 23, 1818. He won celebrity by the “Letters” signed “Junius,” which appeared in the Public Advertiser of London, from 1768 to 1772.

Robert Bridges, a renowned English author and poet, was born October 23, 1844. He has been poet-laureate of England since 1913. He has written: “Essay on Milton’s Prosody,” “Critical Essay on Keats,” “The Growth of Love,” “Eros and Psyche,” “Prometheus the Firegiver,” “Demeter, a Masque,” “The Spirit of Man: An Anthology in English and French,” “Ibant Obscuri,” and some notable plays, among them: “Nero” (Parts I and II), “Palicio,” “Ulysses,” “Christian Captives,” “Achilles in Scyros,” “Humours of the Court,” “Feast of Bacchus,” etc.

George Edward Bateman Saintsbury, an eminent English critic and literary historian, was born at Southampton, October 23, 1845. Among his numerous works are: “Primer of French Literature,” “Short History of French Literature,” “Marlborough,” “Elizabethan Literature,” “Essays in English Literature,” “Essays on French Novelists,” “Nineteenth Century Literature,” “Sir Walter Scott,” “A Short History of English Literature,” “Matthew Arnold,” “History of Criticism and Literary Taste in Europe,” “History of English Prosody,” “History of English Criticism,” “The English Novel,” “First Book of English Literature,” “A History of the French Novel,” Vol. 1 (1917) and Vol. 2 (1919).

Sir James Mackintosh, a distinguished Scottish lawyer, philosopher, and politician, was born at Aldourie, Inverness-shire, October 24, 1765, and died in London, May 30, 1832. Among his writings are: “History of England,” “Life of Sir Thomas More,” “Modern British Essayists,” and “Dissertation on the Progress of Ethical Philosophy.”

James Beattie, a noted Scottish poet, was born in Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire, October 25, 1735, and died in Aberdeen, August 18, 1803. His writings include: “The Minstrel,” “Dissertations Moral and Critical,” “The Evidences of the Christian Religion Briefly and Plainly Stated,” “The Elements of Moral Science,” and his famous “Essay on Truth.”

Thomas Babington, Lord Macaulay, a renowned English historian, essayist, poet and statesman, was born at Rothley Temple, Leicestershire, October 25, 1800, and died at Kensington, December 28, 1859. His most famous works are: “Lays of Ancient Rome,” and the “History of England.”

Charles Sprague, a noted American poet, was born in Boston, October 26, 1791, and died there, January 22, 1875. He wrote: “The Family Meeting,” “The Winged Worshippers,” and “Curiosity.” A collection of his works entitled “Poetical and Prose Writings,” was published in 1841.

James Macpherson, a famous Scottish author, known as the author of the “Ossian” poems, was born at Ruthven, Inverness-shire, October 27, 1736, and died February 17, 1796. He published the “Poems of Ossian,” consisting of “Fingal, an Epic Poem in Six Books” (1762), “Temora, an Epic Poem in Eight Books” (1764); he also wrote: “History of Great Britain” (1775).

Theodore Roosevelt, a celebrated American politician and author, and twenty-sixth President of the United States, was born in New York City, October 27, 1858, and died January 6, 1918. He has written: “Essays on Practical Politics,” “The Naval War of 1812,” “Life of Thomas Hart Benton,” “The Wilderness Hunter,” “The Winning of the West,” “Gouverneur Morris,” “Ranch Life and Hunting Trail,” “History of New York City,” “Hunting Trips of a Ranchman,” “The Outdoor Pastimes of an American Hunter,” “African Game Trails,” “Theodore Roosevelt: an Autobiography,” “History as Literature,” “Life History of African Big Game,” “A Hunter Naturalist in the Brazilian Wilderness,” “Fear God and Take Your Own Part,” “A Book Lover’s Holiday in the Open,” “The Foes of Our Own Household,” etc.

Adam Lindsay Gordon (Lionel Gordon), a noted Australian poet, was born October 28, 1833, and died June 24, 1870. His volumes of verse include: “Sea Spray and Smoke Drift,” “Ashtaroth: A Dramatic Lyric,” “Bush Ballads and Galloping Rhymes.”

James Boswell, a famous Scottish biographer, was born in Edinburgh, October 29, 1740, and died in London, May 19, 1795. He wrote: “An Account of Corsica and Memoirs of Pascal Paoli,” “Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson,” etc. His “Life of Dr. Samuel Johnson” is considered the most interesting biography that has ever been written.

AndrÉ Marie de ChÉnier, a renowned French poet, was born at Constantinople, October 30, 1762, and died July 25, 1794. Among his writings were: “Liberty,” “Invention,” “Dithyrambic on the Tennis Play,” and a beautiful elegy, “The Girl Captive.”

Adelaide Anne Procter, an English poetess of great fame, was born at London, October 30, 1825, and died February 3, 1864. Her celebrated “Legends and Lyrics,” went through many editions.

John Evelyn, a renowned English diarist, was born at Wotton, in Surrey, October 31, 1620, and died February 27, 1706. His writings are: “A Parallel of Ancient and Modern Architecture,” “Sculptura, or the History and Art of Chalcography and Engraving on Copper,” “Sylva,” etc.; also his famous “Diary.”

John Keats, an eminent English poet, was born in London, October 31, 1795, and died in Rome, 1821. He wrote: “Endymion, a Poetic Romance,” “Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems,” including, also, the unfinished epic, “Hyperion.” “The Letters of John Keats to Fanny Brawne” appeared in 1878, and the “Letters to His Family and Friends” in 1891.

William Cowper Prime, a distinguished American man of letters, was born at Cambridge, N. Y., October 31, 1825, and died in 1905. He wrote: “Owl Creek Letters,” “The Old House by the River,” “Later Years,” “Tent Life in the Holy Land,” “Boat Life in Egypt and Nubia,” “The Holy Cross,” “Pottery and Porcelain of All Times and Nations,” etc. He also wrote the famous hymn, “O, Mother Dear, Jerusalem.”

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