READ, Thomas Buchanan, American poet and painter: b. Chester County, Pa., 12 March 1822; d. New York, 11 May 1872. His father was a farmer and he received but little school ing. He lived at various times during his youth and young manhood at Philadelphia, Cincinnati, New York and Boston, occupied in ways that satisfied his tastes, such as portrait painting and writing verses, when he could; and in other ways that supplied his necessities, such as sign painting, cigar making, play acting, when he must. He published his verses in the Boston Courier in 1843-44; later a Revolution ary tale 'Paul Redding) (1845) and (1846), before his removal to Philadelphia, where he edited 'The Female Poets of Amer ica' (1848), and brought out his 'Lays and Ballads) (1849). In 1850 he went to Europe and joined the circle of American artists living at Rome. Here he had the first opportunity for the serious study of painting, and for the rest of his life, save for occasional visits to America, he made his home at Rome. His bet
ter known paintings are 'The Water Sprite ; 'The Lost 'The Star of 'Sheridan and his He made portraits of Mrs. Browning, the ex-Queen of Naples, Henry W. Longfellow and a group of Long fellow's children. His portrait of George Pea body is at the Institute in Baltimore. A sculptured bust of General Sheridan was exe cuted late in life. It is as a poet, however, that he will be remembered, especially by his stirring 'Sheridan's Ride,) written for the elocutionist and actor, James E. Murdock, and the ex quisitely musical lyric (Drifting.) His volumes of verse are 'The New Pastoral' (1855) ; 'Sylvia or the Last Shepherd) (1857) ; The Wagoner of the Alleghanies,> in which occurs the fine lyric 'The Maid Who Binds Her War rior's Sash) (1862). A complete edition of his poems was published in 1882.