Paul Leicester Ford

Born in Brooklyn in 1865, Paul Leicester Ford was an American novelist, historian, and playwright. He came from a prominent literary family and became especially known for fiction set in colonial and Revolutionary America, including The Honorable Peter Stirling and Janice Meredith.

Alongside his novels, he also worked as a serious editor and researcher of early American history. He prepared editions of writings by major figures such as Thomas Jefferson and The Federalist, building a reputation for careful historical work as well as popular storytelling.

Ford’s life was cut short in 1902, when he died at just 36. Even so, he left behind a body of work that reflects both a deep interest in America’s beginnings and a talent for making that past feel vivid to general readers.