John D. Sherwood

author

John D. Sherwood

1818–1891

A 19th-century American writer with a sharp, playful streak, he is best remembered for turning U.S. history into lively satire in The Comic History of the United States. Trained as a lawyer but drawn to letters, he also wrote on public affairs, including Cuba and international questions of his day.

1 Audiobook

The comic history of the United States, from a period prior to the discovery of America to times long subsequent to the present

The comic history of the United States, from a period prior to the discovery of America to times long subsequent to the present

by John D. Sherwood

About the author

Born in Fishkill, New York, on November 24, 1818, John D. Sherwood studied at Yale College, graduating in 1839. He then pursued legal training in Poughkeepsie and at Harvard Law School before practicing law in New York City.

Alongside his legal career, he built a reputation as a writer. His best-known work, The Comic History of the United States (1871), retells American history with humor and satire, giving modern readers a lively example of how 19th-century authors mixed entertainment with commentary.

Sherwood also wrote on contemporary political issues, including The Case of Cuba in 1869. He died on April 30, 1891. No suitable verified portrait image was found from the sources checked, so a profile image is not included.