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William Makepeace Thayer
1820–1898
A 19th-century minister turned popular writer, he brought American history and moral storytelling together for young readers. His lively books on figures like Abraham Lincoln and George Washington helped shape how generations first met the nation's heroes.
4 Audiobooks
From Farm House to the White House
by William Makepeace Thayer
The Printer Boy; Or, How Benjamin Franklin Made His Mark
by William Makepeace Thayer
The Bobbin Boy; or, How Nat Got His learning
by William Makepeace Thayer
From Boyhood to Manhood: Life of Benjamin Franklin
by William Makepeace Thayer
About the author
Born in Franklin, Massachusetts, in 1820, William Makepeace Thayer studied at Brown University and then prepared for the ministry. He preached in Massachusetts and served as pastor of the Orthodox Congregational Church in Ashland from 1849 to 1857.
Thayer later moved into editing and writing, including work on The Home Monthly. He became especially known for accessible, energetic books written for general and younger readers, often blending biography, history, and moral instruction.
His best-known works include lives of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, along with many other books on American character, success, religion, and the expanding nation. He died in 1898, leaving behind a large body of writing that reflects the educational and inspirational style of 19th-century popular nonfiction.