The New Student's Reference Work/Parkman, Francis
Park′man, Francis, an eminent American historian, was born at Boston, Mass., Sept. 16, 1823. He graduated at Harvard in 1844, and after studying law two years made a journey to explore the Rocky Mountains. His life among the Dakota Indians and other tribes was full of hardships, from the effects of which he suffered all the remainder of his life. His first publication was an account of this journey, called The Oregon Trail. His historical writings have been chiefly connected with the French power in America, beginning with The Conspiracy of Pontiac, (in historical order the latest), published in 1851. After visiting France in 1858 to study French documents on the subject, he wrote Pioneers of France in the New World; Jesuits in North America; Lasalle and the Discovery of the Great West; The Old Régime in Canada; Count Frontenac and New France under Louis XIV; Montcalm and Wolfe; and A Half-Century of Conflict. This large amount of historical writing, done at great disadvantage from defective eyesight and feeble health, has been carefully and accurately worked out, his first visit to France being followed by several others for purposes of research. His literary style is picturesque and fascinating. He died at Jamaica Plain, near Boston, Nov. 8, 1893.