WHITE, Richard Grant. American author and critic: h. New York, 22 May 1821: d there, 8 April 1885. He was graduated from the New York University in 1839, studied medi cine and then law, and became a contributor of musical, art and dramatic critiques to the New York Courier and Enquirer. From 1854 to 1859 he was an editor of this journal; and of the World, 1860-61. His 'Yankee Letters,' contributed in 1863-67 to the London Spectator, were interesting narratives of contemporary events and of considerable service to the na tional cause. In 1861-78 he was chief clerk of the United States revenue marine bureau for the district of New York. White was particu larly known as a Shakespearean scholar. He contributed articles on Shakespeare to Puissans's Magazine in 1853, in 1854 published 'Shakes peare's Scholar,' and in 1857-63 a critical edi tion of the poet's works. Other volumes on this general subject were, 'Essay on the Authorship of the Three Parts of Henry The Sixth' (1859); 'Memoirs of William Shakespeare, with an Essay toward the Expression of his Genius> (186a), and the posthumous 'Studies in Shakespeare' (1885). White's 'Riverside
edition of Shakespeare' (1883) was one of the most popular prepared by an American. He was also one of the leading American critics of his time, dogmatic at times and over-hasty in generalization, but vigorous, acute and fre quently brilliant. Philological studies were represented by his 'Words and their Uses: A Study of the (1870; rev. ed.. 1872), and En ish) (1881). The most widely circulated of his writings was the anonymous satire 'The New Gospel of Peace' (1863-66). He also wrote a novel 'The rate of Mansfield Humphreys' (1884), and edited 'Illustrated Record of the New York Exhibi tion of the Industry of All Nations' (1854), and 'Poetry, Lyrical, Narrative, and Satirical of the Civil War' (1866). His scholarship was considerable, his style readable and often marked by satire, and his authority in his day decided. An interesting article regarding bins by F. P. Church appeared in the Allantst for March 1891, Vol. 67.