Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Bleecker, Anthony

BLEECKER, Anthony, author, b. in New York city in October, 1770; d. there 13 March, 1827. He was the son of Anthony Lispenard Bleecker, who resided on the estate through which Bleecker street now passes, and from which it has taken its name. He was graduated at Columbia in 1791 and studied law, but never was a successful practitioner on account of his unconquerable diffidence. His natural tastes led him to the pursuit of letters, and for thirty years he was a prolific contributor of both prose and verse to the periodical literature of New York and Philadelphia. The "Narrative of the Brig Commerce" is one of his best-known works. He was one of the founders of the New York Historical Society, and excelled all his associates, except Pintard, in devotion to the interests of the new institution; also a trustee of the New York Society Library from 1810 till 1826. The poet Bryant wrote in 1825: "Anthony Bleecker, who read everything that came out, and sometimes wrote for the magazines, was an amusing companion, always ready with his puns, of whom Miss Eliza Fenno, before her marriage to Verplanck in 1811, wrote that she had gone into the country to take refuge from Anthony Bleecker's puns."—His nephew, Richard Wade, b. in New York city, 27 Aug., 1821; d. there, 21 April, 1875. He was engaged in business in New York city, and for some time was president of the North American Fire Insurance Company. He was an active patron of the arts and sciences, and the literary receptions held at his residence were attended by prominent artists and authors. Mr. Bleecker was a member of the New York Historical Society, a fellow of the National Academy of Design, a member of the American Institute, and also of other art and historical societies both at home and abroad.