The New Student's Reference Work/Curtis, George William

Cur'tis, George William, American author, was born in Providence, R. I., Feb. 24, 1824. As a boy he spent a year in New York as a clerk, and worked for some time as a farm-hand in Massachusetts. His first book, Nile Notes of a Howadji, was written after traveling in Egypt and Syria. He was one of the first editors of Putnam's Monthly, founded in 1852. He also was a partner in the undertaking, though having nothing to do with the business management. When, in 1859, the enterprise failed, Mr. Curtis sank all his fortune in the endeavor to save the creditors from loss, which he accomplished after six years' struggle. He wrote many essays, sketches and novels, and was successful as a lecturer. He is best known as the editor of Harper's Weekly and editor of the Easy Chair in Harper's Magazine. Mr. Curtis was prominent in politics, acting with the Republican party till 1884, but afterward supporting the bemocrats. He died on Staten Island, N. Y., Aug. 31, 1892.