James Fenimore Cooper
1789 - 1851
General Information
Bio
(1789-1851) James Fenimore Cooper was born in Burlington, New Jersey, and his father soon moved the family and established Cooperstown, New York. Cooper is said to be the father of the American novel with “The Spy” (1821) and “The Pilot” (1823). Cooper also penned a little-known sequence of five novels called “The Leatherstocking Tales,” which includes “The Deerslayer” (1841), “The Last of the Mohicans” (1826), and “The Pathfinder” (1840). He died in 1851 in Cooperstown, New York.
Full Name
James Fenimore Cooper
Locations
Albany
Author's Timeline
Unknown
OTHER
Cooper had a law practice in Albany, New York.
Unknown
OTHER
In the 1830's and 1840's, Cooper traveled to the Old Court House in the town of Fonda, New York to bring libel suits against James Watson Webb and Thurlow Weed. Webb and Weed, of the New York Enquirer and the Albany Evening Journal respectively, had published controversial reactions to some of the opinions expressed by Cooper in his novel "Home as Found" (1838). Cooper brought the two editors to trial for libel and won.
1789
BIRTH
James Fenimore Cooper was born in Burlington, New Jersey in 1789.
1817
OTHER
Cooper moved in 1817 to Angevine Farm on Mamaroneck Road, off Route 22, near Fenimore Road; the site is marked. There are murals of his wedding to Susan DeLancy at the Mamaroneck Public Library. Cooper lived for a while in Scarsdale. The house is sill there.
1819
OTHER
Cooper stayed at the Duke Fordham Inn, Sag Harbor, New York in 1819.
1820
LITWORK
Precaution
Novel.
Novel.
1821
LITWORK
The Spy
Cooper is reputed to have written his novel "The Spy" (1821) at Hustlers Tavern in Lewiston, and to have based several characters of that novel on the taverns proprietors.
Cooper is reputed to have written his novel "The Spy" (1821) at Hustlers Tavern in Lewiston, and to have based several characters of that novel on the taverns proprietors.
1823
LITWORK
The Pioneers
Novel.
Novel.
1824
LITWORK
The Pilot
Novel.
Novel.
1826
LITWORK
The Last Of The Mohicans
"The Last of the Mohicans," Cooper possibly modeled his character Natty Bumpo after Ephraim Webster, the first white settler in the region; Webster is buried in Onondaga Valley Cemetery.
"The Last of the Mohicans," Cooper possibly modeled his character Natty Bumpo after Ephraim Webster, the first white settler in the region; Webster is buried in Onondaga Valley Cemetery.
1826
LITWORK
The Last Of The Mohicans
A portion of the novel, "The Last Of The Mohicans," was set in Cooper's Cave, South Glens Falls.
A portion of the novel, "The Last Of The Mohicans," was set in Cooper's Cave, South Glens Falls.
1826
LITWORK
The Last Of The Mohicans
Cooper set some of the events of "The Last of the Mohicans" (1826) at the foot of the falls of the Hudson River near Glens Falls.
Cooper set some of the events of "The Last of the Mohicans" (1826) at the foot of the falls of the Hudson River near Glens Falls.
1826
OTHER
Cooper lived at 345 Greenwich Street in 1826, then later, at 145 Bleecker Street and at 6 Saint Mark's Place, in New York City; but always considered Otsego Hall in Cooperstown, New York his home.
1827
LITWORK
The Prairie
Novel.
Novel.
1827
LITWORK
The Red Rover
Novel.
Novel.
1830
LITWORK
The Water Witch
Novel.
Novel.
1833
OTHER
Otsego Hall, in Cooperstown, was Cooper's permanent home from 1833 until his death. It was built by his father. It was located on Main Street opposite Fair Street. The house was unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1853. The Lakewood Cemetery features a monument to Cooper, as does Cooper Park, which has statue of him. He is buried at Christ Church. The Fenimore House, a museum dedicated to displaying Coopers papers, memorabilia. Phone: 607.547.2533. Historical markers around Otsego Lake point out various scenes from his novels.
1840
LITWORK
The Pathfinder
Cooper, A U. S. Navy midshipman, was stationed at Fort Oswego in 1808-09; he lived at 24 West 2nd Street. He wrote about his days and sightings in Oswego and was inspired to use Oswego as the setting for "The Pathfinder" (1840).
Cooper, A U. S. Navy midshipman, was stationed at Fort Oswego in 1808-09; he lived at 24 West 2nd Street. He wrote about his days and sightings in Oswego and was inspired to use Oswego as the setting for "The Pathfinder" (1840).
1841
LITWORK
The Deerslayer
Novel.
Novel.
1851
DEATH
James Fenimore Cooper died in Cooperstown, New York in 1851.
1851
INTERMENT
Cooper is buried at Christ Church in Cooperstown, New York.
Found Wrong Information?
Contact us or use our form to request an update to your information or request an update on behalf of the author.
