James Parton

James Parton 1822-91, American biographer, b. England. He came to the United States in 1827. In 1848 he joined the staff of N. P. Willis's Home Journal in New York City. His biographical writing began with the very successful Life of Horace Greeley (1855) and was followed by biographies of Aaron Burr (1857), Andrew Jackson (1859-60), John Jacob Astor (1865), and others.

Parton, James (1822–91), born in England, was brought to New York (1827) and established his literary reputation with the publication of The Life of Horace Greeley (1855). His ability at realistic portrayal and the vivid ordering of comprehensive factual material made him a noteworthy biographer of his time. His other subjects were Aaron Burr (1857), Andrew Jackson (3 vols. 1859–60), Benjamin Franklin (2 vols., 1864), John Jacob Astor (1865), Jefferson (1874), and Voltaire (2 vols., 1881). In addition to these works, which remain excellent personal portraits, he wrote on contemporary political, social, and economic topics, and made collections of short biographies. His wife was Sara P. Willis.