The Biographical Dictionary of America/Adams, William Taylor

ADAMS, William Taylor, "Oliver Optic," author, was born at Medway, Mass., July 30, 1822. He was educated in the public schools of Boston, and began life as a teacher being connected at various times, with the Harris school in Dorchester, and the Dwight, Boylston, and Bowditch schools in Boston. He turned his attention to literary work in 1853; edited The Student and Schoolmate, 1858-'66; Oliver Optic's Magazine, 1867-'75, and Our Little Ones, and Our Boys and Girls for the Russell Publishing Company. He was a representative in the Massachusetts legislature in 1869; visited Europe more than twenty times and traveled in Asia and Africa. He is the author of: "Hatchie the Guardian Slave, or the Heiress of Bellevue" (1853); "The Boat Club Series;" "Army and Navy Stories;" "Boat Builder Series;" "Great Western Series;" "Lake Shore Series;" "Outward and Upward Series;" "Riverdale Story Books;" "Starry Flag Series;" "Household Library;" "Blue and Gray Afloat;" "Blue and Gray on Land;" "All-Over-The-World Series;" "Woodville Stories;" "Yacht Club Series;" "Young America Abroad Series;" "Across India or Five Boys in the Far East" (1895); "A Lieutenant at Eighteen" (1895); "In the Saddle" (1895), and over 1000 short stories. He died at Dorchester, Mass., March 27, 1897.