Horace Elisha Scudder

Born in Boston on October 16, 1838, Horace Elisha Scudder became an American editor, critic, and author whose career was closely tied to the literary world of New England. He studied at Williams College and went on to build a reputation as a thoughtful man of letters with a wide range of interests.

Scudder is especially remembered for his years as editor of The Atlantic Monthly, a role he held from 1890 to 1898. Alongside his editorial work, he wrote biographies, essays, and books for children, and he also helped preserve and interpret American literary history through his writing and anthologies.

His books include works on Noah Webster and James Russell Lowell, as well as stories and historical writing for younger audiences. He died on January 11, 1902, but his career still offers a clear picture of a writer who connected readers with literature in many different forms.