George Cochrane Hazelton

Born on January 20, 1868, George Cochrane Hazelton was an American actor, playwright, and later a politician. He performed on stage with major stars such as Lawrence Barrett, Edwin Booth, and Helena Modjeska before moving into writing for the theater.

His best-known play was The Raven, a drama based on the life of Edgar Allan Poe. He also wrote other stage works, including Mistress Nell and Caesar's Wife, and spent time working in journalism and public speaking, including writing speeches for William Jennings Bryan.

Hazelton's career eventually expanded into public office. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives from New York and served one term before returning to private life. He died on April 29, 1921.