William Livingston Alden | |
---|---|
Born | October 9, 1837
Williamstown |
Died | January 14, 1908
(aged 70) Buffalo |
Alma mater | |
Occupation | Diplomat, author, journalist, writer |
Employer | |
Parent(s) | |
Awards | |
Position held | consul ( Kingdom of Italy, 1885–1889) |
William Livingston Alden (1837–1908) was an American journalist, fiction writer, humorist and canoe enthusiast. He was a US diplomat in Rome from 1885 to 1890 and thereafter lived in Europe until shortly before his death.
William Livingston Alden was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts on October 9, 1837. [1] He attended Lafayette College and transferred to Jefferson College after his father, Joseph Alden, was elected president. [2]
He graduated from Jefferson in 1858 and read law in New York City with William M. Evarts, joining the bar in 1860. [3] He practiced law until 1866. [3] [4] He then became a journalist, writing for Scribner's Monthly, The Atlantic, New York World and Daily Graphic. [1] [3] He later worked on the editorial staff of The New York Times and produced a weekly column called "Minor Topics". [5] He also wrote humor pieces and juvenile fiction. [6] While in New York City he became an early member of the Theosophical Society, an esoteric organization founded by Helena Blavatsky in 1875. [7]
Alden is also credited with bringing the sport of canoeing to the United States. [6] [8] He founded the New York Canoe Club in 1871, which was the first canoeing organization in America. [9] He was a founding member of the American Canoe Association and served as its first Commodore. [6] [10]
Alden was appointed Consul General in Rome, Italy, by President Grover Cleveland in 1885, [6] a position he held until 1889, and received from the king the cross of chevalier of the order of the Crown of Italy. [11] In 1890 he lived in Paris, writing for the New York Herald until 1893, [11] when he began living and writing in London. [1] He died on January 14, 1908. [6] [1]
He is the author of many works, including the following: [11]