author
William Irving
1766–1821
Remembered today as Washington Irving’s older brother, he led a varied life as a fur trader, merchant, congressman, and occasional writer. His story offers a glimpse of the lively literary and political world of early New York.
1 Audiobook
Salmagundi : or, The whimwhams and opinions of Launcelot Langstaff, esq., and others
by William Irving, Washington Irving, James Kirke Paulding
About the author
Born in New York City on August 15, 1766, he worked in business from an early age and spent several years in the fur trade along the Mohawk River frontier before returning to the city in the 1790s. He later became a merchant and was part of the well-connected Irving family, which included writer Washington Irving.
He also had a place in the literary culture around his family and is associated with Salmagundi, the satirical periodical created with Washington Irving and James Kirke Paulding. Alongside his writing interests, he entered public life and served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from New York between 1814 and 1819.
He died in 1821. Though he is less famous than his younger brother, his life crossed business, politics, and literature in a way that makes him an interesting figure in early American culture.