author
Wallis Nash
A British-born lawyer, entrepreneur, and memoirist, he wrote vivid books about Oregon that captured the hopes and realities of life in the American West. His work blends personal adventure with sharp observations on immigration, settlement, and public life.
1 Audiobook
Two Years in Oregon
by Wallis Nash
About the author
Born in London in 1837, Wallis Nash built a legal career in England before traveling to Oregon in the late 1870s. His experiences there inspired books including Oregon and Washington Territory and later A Lawyer's Life on Two Continents, which helped introduce many readers to the Pacific Northwest.
Nash did more than write about Oregon—he became part of its development. After emigrating with his family, he worked as a lawyer and entrepreneur in Benton County and served on the initial Board of Regents for Oregon Agricultural College, the institution that became Oregon State University.
He is remembered as a lively observer of two worlds: Victorian England and the growing American West. His writing remains valuable for readers interested in migration, regional history, and the everyday ambitions that shaped Oregon in the nineteenth century.