Theodore Sedgwick Fay (February 10, 1807 – November 17, 1898) was a writer from the United States who spent much of his life in

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

Biography

Fay initially worked as a clerk for his father, an attorney. His father died in 1825, and he continued long enough in law to be admitted to the bar in 1828, but he quickly left the legal profession for periodical journalism, where he made a name for himself for some years. To this period belongs his book ''Dreams and Reveries of a Quiet Man'' (2 vols., 1832), which contained papers he had written for the ''

New York Mirror The ''New-York Mirror'' was a weekly newspaper published in New York City from 1823 to 1842, succeeded by ''The New Mirror'' in 1843 and 1844. Its producers then launched a daily newspaper named ''The Evening Mirror'', which published from 1844 ...

'', where he was an editor beginning in 1828. He married Laura Gardenier in 1833, and went traveling in Europe for three years, while sending back articles to the ''Mirror''. He served with ability in the United States diplomatic service, first as secretary of the legation at London briefly (1837), then at Berlin (1837–53), and next (1853–61) as Minister at

Berne german: Berner(in)french: Bernois(e) it, bernese , neighboring_municipalities = Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen , website ...

, Switzerland. He retired from his diplomatic career in 1861. He then moved to Berlin. His first wife died while he was at Berne, and he later married a German woman.

Works

Other works include:
''Views in New-York and its environs, from accurate, characteristic & picturesque drawings, taken on the spot, expressly for this work''
(New York: Peabody & Co., 1831). With

James H. Dakin James Harrison Dakin (August 24, 1806 – May 13, 1852), American architect . Best known for his Neo-Gothic style. Best known as Architect of the Old Louisiana State Capitol, Old Bank of Louisville, and other public buildings. Early life Dakin w ...

.
collection of engravings
with commentary by Fay. * ''Norman Leslie: A Tale of the Present Times'' (2 vols., 1835) Some say this book was a best seller until it received a poor review from

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wide ...

. However, others say sales of the book were increased by the controversy Poe's review ignited. Louisa H. Medina adapted the book into a successful play. * ''Sydney Clifton'' (1839) * ''The Countess Ida'' (1841) A didactic novel criticizing the practice of

dueling A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two people, with matched weapons, in accordance with agreed-upon rules. During the 17th and 18th centuries (and earlier), duels were mostly single combats fought with swords (the rapier and la ...

. * ''Hoboken, a Romance'' (1843) Another didactic novel on the dueling theme. * ''Ulric'', a poem (1851) Looks at the impact of

Lutheranism Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Cathol ...

on a German captain. * ''Views of Christianity'' (1856) * ''A Great Outline of Geography'' (2 vols., 1867) A textbook. * ''First Steps in Geography'' (1873) A textbook. * ''Die Sklavenmacht: Blicke in die Geschichte der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika'' ("The slave power: a look into the history of the United States of America," Berlin, 1865) Written to respond to criticism. * ''Die Alabama-Frage'' ("The

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

Question," Leipzig, 1872) Also written in response to criticism. * ''The Three Germanys'' (2 vols., 1889) Political history. * ''History of Switzerland'' He also wrote for periodicals throughout his life.

Notes

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Fay, Theodore Sedgwick 1807 births 1898 deaths 19th-century American diplomats American emigrants to Germany 19th-century American writers 19th-century German writers 19th-century German male writers 19th-century American male writers