HAWTHORNE, Nathaniel, American M novelist: b. Salem, ass., 4 July 1804; d. Plym outh, N. H., 19 May 1864. The founder of the family in America was William Hathorne (as the name was then spelled), a typical Puri tan and a public man of importance. John, his son, was a judge, one of those presiding over the witchcraft trials. Of Joseph in the next generation little is said, but Daniel, next in &Scent, followed the sea and commanded a privateer in the Revolution, while his son Nathaniel, father of the romancer, was also a sea captain. This pure New England descent gave a personal character to Hawthorne's pre sentations of New England life; when he writes of the strictness of the early Puritans, of the forests haunted by Indians, of the mag nificence of the provincial days, of men high in the opinion of their towns-people, of the reaching out to far lands and exotic splendors, he is expressing the stored-up experience of his race. His father died when Nathaniel was but four and the little family lived a secluded life with his mother. He was a handsome boy and quite devoted to reading, by an early accident which for a time prevented outdoor games. His first school was with Dr. Worcester, the lexicographer. In 1818 his mother moved to Raymond, Me., where her brother had bought land, and Hawthorne went to Bowdoin Col lege. He entered college at the age of 17 in the same class with Longfellow. In the class above him was Franklin Pierce, afterward 12th President of the United States. On being grad uated in 1825 Hawthorne determined upon lit erature as a profession, but his first efforts were without success. (Fanshawe) was pub lished anonymously in 1828, and shorter tales and sketches were without importance. Little need be said of these earlier years save to note that they were full of reading and observation. In 1836 he edited in Boston the American Magazine for Useful and Entertaining Knowl edge, but gained little from it save an intro duction to 'The Token,' in which his tales first came to be known. Returning to Salem he lived a very secluded life, seeing almost no one (rather a family trait), and devoted to his thoughts and imaginations. He was a strong and powerful man, of excellent health and, though silent, cheerful, and a delightful com panion when he chose. But intellectually he was of a separated and individual type, having his own extravagances and powers and sub mitting to no companionship in influence. In 1837 appeared (Twice Told Tales' in book form: in a preface written afterward Haw thorne says that he was at this time "the ob scurest man of letters in America.'" Gradually he began to be more widely received. In 1839 he became engaged to Miss Sophia Peabody, but was not married for some years. In 1838 he was appointed to a place in the Boston cus tom house, but found that he could not easily save time enough for literature and was not very sorry when the change of administration put him out of office. In 1841 was founded the
socialistic community at Brook Farm: it seemed to Hawthorne that here was a chance for a union of intellectual and physical work, whereby he might make a suitable home for his future wife. It failed to fulfil his expecta tions and Hawthorne withdrew from the ex periment. In 1842 he was married and moved with his wife to the Old Manse at Concord just above the historic bridge. Here chiefly he wrote the 'Mosses of an Old Manse' (1846). In 1845 he published a second series of 'Twice Told Tales': in this year also the family moved to Salem, where he had received the appointment of surveyor at the custom house. As before, official work was a hindrance to literature; not till 1849 when he lost his posi tion could he work seriously. He used his new-found leisure in carrying out a theme that had been long in his mind and produced 'The Scarlet Letter' in 1850. This, the first of his longer novels, was received with enthusiasm and at once gave him a distinct place in litera ture. He now moved to Lenox, Mass., where he began on (The House of Seven Gables,' which was published in 1851. He also wrote Wonder-Book' here, which in its way has become as famous as his more important work. In December 1851 he moved to West Newton, and shortly to Concord again, this time to the Wayside. At Newton he wrote 'The Blithe dale Romance.' Having settled himself at Con cord in the summer of 1852, his first literary work was to write the life of his college friend, Franklin Pierce, just nominated for the Presi dency. This done he turned to (Tanglewood Tales,' a volume not unlike the 'Wonder Book.' In 1853 he was named consul to Liver pool: at first he declined the position, but finally resolved to take this opportunity to see something of Europe. He spent four years in England, and then a year in Italy. As before, he could write nothing while an official, and resigned in 1857 to go to Rome, where he passed the winter, and to Florence, where he received suggestions and ideas which gave him stimulus for literary work. The summer of 1858 he passed at Redcar, in Yorkshire, where he wrote The Marble Faun.' In June 1860 he sailed for America, where he returned to the Wayside. For a time he did little literary work: in 1863 he published 'Our Old Home," a series of sketches of English life, and planned a new novel, 'The Dolliver Romance,' also called 'Pansie.' But though he suffered from no disease his vitality seemed relaxed: some unfortunate accidents had a depressing effect, and in the midst of a carriage trip into the White Mountains with his old friend, Franklin Pierce, he died suddenly at Plymouth, N, H., early in the morning, 19 May 1864.