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James Grant Wilson

James Grant Wilson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of poet William Wilson. Soon after his birth, his family relocated to Poughkeepsie, New York. He was educated at College Hill, and then privately tutored. He joined his father in business, later becoming his partner. In 1855, he began a two-year trip to Europe. In 1857, he returned to the U.S. and founded the Chicago Record, a journal of art and literature. In 1862, during the Civil War, he sold his the Chicago Record and entered the Union Army as a major of the 15th Illinois Cavalry. He left the Army in 1865 and moved to New York City, where he became an author, speaker, and president of the Society of American Authors. In 1885 he also became president of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. He edited several works of history and biography.

Works (29)

Cover of Appleton's Cyclopædia of American Biography
Appleton's Cyclopædia of American Biography
Cover of The centennial history of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of New York 1785-1885
The centennial history of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of New York 1785-1885
Cover of The memorial history of the City of New-York
The memorial history of the City of New-York
Cover of Appleton's cyclopaedia of American biography
Appleton's cyclopaedia of American biography
Cover of The Presidents of the United States
The Presidents of the United States
1894
Cover of Appletons' cyclopædia of American biography
Appletons' cyclopædia of American biography
Cover of Appleton's Cyclopædia of American Biography
Appleton's Cyclopædia of American Biography
Cover of Biographical sketches of Illinois officers engaged in the war against the rebellion of 1861
Biographical sketches of Illinois officers engaged in the war against the rebellion of 1861
Cover of Thackeray in the United States, 1852-3, 1855-6
Thackeray in the United States, 1852-3, 1855-6
Cover of The life and letters of Fitz-Greene Halleck
The life and letters of Fitz-Greene Halleck
Cover of Lord Lovelace and the second Canadian campaign, 1708-1710
Lord Lovelace and the second Canadian campaign, 1708-1710
Cover of The presidents of the United States 1789-1914
The presidents of the United States 1789-1914
Cover of The Memorial History of the City of New York
The Memorial History of the City of New York
1893
Cover of Appletons' cyclopædia of American biography
Appletons' cyclopædia of American biography
Cover of Bryant, and his friends
Bryant, and his friends
Cover of Appletons' cyclopædia of American biography
Appletons' cyclopædia of American biography
Cover of Bryant, and his friends
Bryant, and his friends
Cover of The Cyclopaedia of American biography
The Cyclopaedia of American biography
Cover of Appletons' cyclopædia of American biography
Appletons' cyclopædia of American biography
Cover of Appleton's cyclopaedia of American biography
Appleton's cyclopaedia of American biography
Cover of Thomas Dongan and the New York charter, 1682-1688
Thomas Dongan and the New York charter, 1682-1688
Cover of The poets and poetry of Scotland from the earliest to the present time, comprising characteristic selections from the works of the more noteworthy Scottish poets, with biographical and critial notes
The poets and poetry of Scotland from the earliest to the present time, comprising characteristic selections from the works of the more noteworthy Scottish poets, with biographical and critial notes
Cover of Memoirs of an American Lady: With Sketches of Manners and Scenes in America ...
Memoirs of an American Lady: With Sketches of Manners and Scenes in America ...
Cover of Appletons' cyclopædia of American biography
Appletons' cyclopædia of American biography
Cover of The poets and poetry of Scotland
The poets and poetry of Scotland
Cover of A Description of the Dedication of the Monument Erected at Guilford
A Description of the Dedication of the Monument Erected at Guilford
1869
Cover of The Cyclopædia of American Biography
The Cyclopædia of American Biography
Cover of John Pintard, founder of the New York Historical Society
John Pintard, founder of the New York Historical Society
Cover of Appleton's cyclopædia of American biography
Appleton's cyclopædia of American biography