e coming to America. The
greatest name in American literature is that of the son of the
Orcadian farmer, Washington Irving (1783-1859). He was the first who
won international honors for American literature. John Mellish or
Melish (1771-1822), born in Perthshire, died in Philadelphia, traveled
extensively in the United States and published several volumes of his
travels and also published many topographical and military maps. James
Murdock (1776-1856), of Ulster Scot descent, translated and edited
Mosheim's "Institutes of Ecclesiastical History," Milman's "History of
Christianity," etc. Henry Marie Brackenridge (1786-1871), author and
jurist, was son of the author of "Modern Chivalry." Thomas F. Gordon
(1789-1860), lawyer and historian of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, etc.,
was of Scottish ancestry. Augustus Baldwin Longstreet (1790-1870),
lawyer, newspaper editor, author of "Georgia Scenes" (1840), etc., was
son of the inventor. Lydia (Huntley) Sigourney (1791-1865), poet and
miscellaneous writer, was partly of Scots descent. Hew Ainslie
(1792-1878), author of a "Pilgrimage to the Land of Burns," etc., was
born in Ayrshire. David Paul Brown (1795-1872), born in Philadelphia
of Scottish parents, was author of "The Forum; or Forty Years of
Practice at the Philadelphia Bar." James Lawson (1799-1880), newspaper
editor and dramatist, was born in Glasgow and died in Yonkers. Angus
Umphraville of Missouri, the unknown author of "Missourian Lays" (St.
Louis, 1821), was most probably a Scot. His verses are described as
"simply wonderful." Maria J. McIntosh (1803-78), authoress, was
descended from the McIntoshes of Georgia. George Washington Bethune
(1805-62) of New York, a graceful poet and eloquent orator, was the
son of Divie Bethune, a native of Dingwall. Robert Shelton Mackenzie
(1808-80), born in Dublin of Scottish parentage, was editor of the
standard edition of "Noctes Ambrosianae," and in 1834 became the first
regular salaried correspondent of an American newspaper, the New York
"Evening Star." Rev. Robert Turnbull (1809-77), born at Whitburn,
Linlithgowshire, edited the "Christian Review" for many years and was
author of several works. James C. Moffat (1811-90), orientalist, poet,
and Professor of Classics in Lafayette College, author of "Comparative
History of Religions," etc., was born in Glencree, Wigtownshire.
Robert Macfarlane (1812-83), Editor of the "Scientific American," and
author of two or three technical treatises