GRISWOLD, Rufus Wilmot, American author and compiler: b. Benson, Rutland County, Vt., 15 Feb. 1815; d. in New York, 27 Aug. 1857. He was apprenticed to the printing trade, but afterward studied divinity and be came a preacher in the Baptist church. He soon became associated in the editorship of literary periodicals in Boston, New York and Philadelphia, among which were the New Yorkei., Brother Jonathan and the New World. In 1842-43 he edited Graham's Magazine in Philadelphia, to which he attracted contribu tions from some of the best writers in the country, and in 1850 projected the International Magazine published in New York, and edited by him till April 1852. The works by which he is chiefly known are collections of specimens from American authors, accompanied by memoirs and critical remarks. His work in this field did much to encourage young writers and to stimulate interest in American litera ture. His published works include 'Poets and
Poetry of America' (1842); 'Prose Writers of America' (1846) ; 'Female Poets of America' (1849) ; 'Sacred Poets of England and Amer ica' (1849) ; 'Poets and Poetry of England in the Nineteenth Century' (4th ed. 1854); 'Curi osities in American Literature'; 'Washington and the Generals of the American Revolution,' with Simms, Ingraham and others (1847) ; 'Napoleon and the Marshals of the Empire,' with Wallace (1847) : 'Republican Court, or American Society in the Days of Washington' (l854). He edited the first American edition of the prose works of Milton (1845), and was one of the editors of the works of Edgar A. Poe, his 'Memoir' to which aroused much con troversy. His correspondence, published by his son, W. M. Griswold, (Cambridge, Mass., 1898) is of importance in the history of American literature.