SPARKS, JARED (1789-1866). An American historian, editor, and educator, born at Willing ton, Conn. He graduated at Harvard College in 1815. Here, after teaching school, he was (1817 19) tutor in mathematics and natural phi losophy. During this time he studied theology and (1817-18) edited the North American Re view. From 1819 to 1823 he was pastor of a Unitarian church in Baltimore: in 1821-23 he edited there the Unitarian Miscellany and Chris tian Monitor (monthly) ; and from 1824 to 1831 again edited the North. American Review, of which he was chief proprietor. In 1830 he founded and was the first editor of the American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge, published an nually until 1861. In 1839 he became professor of history at Harvard. of which institution he was president from 1849 to 1853. During this time he reformed administrative methods, in sisted upon the recognition by the Massachusetts Legislature of Harvard's chartered rights, and vigorously opposed the elective system. He is best known, however, as a biographer, and as an editor and collector of documents relating to American history. In this field he was a pioneer and rendered services of great value. As an editor he was severely criticised for taking liberties with his materials, such as failing to re produce letters and documents accurately, mak ing many verbal and other changes, and omitting numerous passages; but the extent to which he took such liberties has been greatly exaggerated. Perhaps his best known work is his edition of the Writings of George Washington (12 vols.,
1834-37), the first volume of which is an excel lent biography of Washington, frequently pub lished separately. This edition met with much criticism, involving Sparks particularly in a con troversy with Lord Mahon, and it has since been superseded in many respects by that of W. C. Ford. Sparks also edited: The Library of Amer ican Biograpky (first series, 10 vols.. 1834-38; second series, 15 vols., 1844-47), to which he him self contributed several biographies; The Diplo matic Correspondence of the American Revolu tion (12 vols., 1829-30), since superseded in most respects by Wharton's Revolutionary Diplomatio Correspondence of the United States (6 vols., 1889) ; The Works of Benjamin Franklin with a Life of the Author (10 vols., 1836-40), since superseded by Bigelow's Complete Works of Ben jamin Franklin (10 vols., 1887-89) ; and Corre spondence of the American Revolution; Letters of Eminent Men to George Washington (4 vols., 1853). He also published a Life of Gouverneur Morris, with Selections from His Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers (3 vols., 1832). He left voluminous manuscript journals, and a mass of valuable documentary material relating chiefly to the diplomatic history of the American Revo lution, which was collected by him during several trips to Europe, and which he bequeathed to time Harvard Library. Consult: H. B. Adams, Life and Writings of Jared Sparks (2 vols., Boston, 1893).