Washington Irving (Irving, Washington) (1783-1859) American novelist, short story writer, essayist, in fact, the first writer of the New World, which won recognition in Europe. Born April 3, 1783 in New York. Came from a wealthy family of a merchant, received a law degree. An energetic, versatile and hard-working, tried in his younger years a number of professions, was a journalist, publisher, editor, representative of a trading company in Londone.Semnadtsat years he lived in Europe
