author
William Henry Burr
1819–1908
A sharp-eyed 19th-century journalist and author, he built a reputation for turning painstaking research into lively literary detective work. His books ranged from biblical criticism to bold arguments about who really wrote famous political and literary texts.
1 Audiobook
Bacon and Shakspere
by William Henry Burr
About the author
Born in Gloversville, New York, in 1819, William Henry Burr studied at Union College and went on to work as a stenographer and reporter in Washington. He served as an official reporter of debates in the United States Senate, a role that gave him a close view of public life and helped shape his precise, investigative style.
Burr wrote on religion, politics, and authorship, and he became especially known for books that challenged accepted ideas. Among his works are Self-Contradictions of the Bible and later studies arguing controversial theories about figures such as Junius, Thomas Paine, and Shakespeare. Admirers described him as a kind of literary detective, drawn to puzzles that mixed history, language, and argument.
He also painted, and his long career left traces in journalism, authorship, and public debate. Burr died in Washington, D.C., in 1908, but his work still offers a window into the restless, argumentative world of 19th-century American letters.