author
J. Fairfax (James Fairfax) McLaughlin
1839–1903
A lively 19th-century American writer whose books ranged from sharp political satire to biography, he also left behind affectionate recollections of Georgetown life. His work opens a window onto Civil War–era politics, Irish American public life, and the literary culture of his time.
2 Audiobooks
The American Cyclops, the Hero of New Orleans, and Spoiler of Silver Spoons
by J. Fairfax (James Fairfax) McLaughlin
The life and times of John Kelly, tribune of the people
by J. Fairfax (James Fairfax) McLaughlin
About the author
Born in 1839 and dying in 1903, J. Fairfax McLaughlin — James Fairfax McLaughlin — was an American author best known today for works such as The American Cyclops, the Hero of New Orleans, and Spoiler of Silver Spoons, The Life and Times of John Kelly, Tribune of the People, and College Days at Georgetown, and Other Papers.
The surviving record around him is a little scattered, but library and archival listings consistently connect him with a substantial body of late-19th-century writing. His books suggest a writer comfortable moving between satire, political biography, and personal or historical reflection, with a particular interest in public figures and the world of American politics.
McLaughlin is also associated with Georgetown in archival records, which helps place him within the educated Catholic and literary circles of his era. For modern listeners, his appeal lies in that mix of wit, period detail, and firsthand closeness to the people and controversies he wrote about.