GRISWOLD

griswold, rufus wilmot (1815-1857), american editor and compiler, was born in benson, vermont, on the 15th of february 1815. he travelled extensively, worked in newspaper offices, was a baptist clergyman for a time, and finally became a journalist in new york city, where he was successively a member of the staffs of _the brother jonathan_, _the new world_ (1839-1840) and _the new yorker_ (1840). from 1841 to 1843 he edited _graham's magazine_ (philadelphia), and added to its list of contributors many leading american writers. from 1850 to 1852 he edited the _international magazine_ (new york), which in 1852 was merged into _harper's magazine_. he died in new york city on the 27th of august 1857. he is best known as the compiler and editor of various anthologies (with brief biographies and critiques), such as _poets and poetry of america_ (1842), his most popular and valuable book; _prose writers of america_ (1846); _female poets of america_ (1848); and _sacred poets of england and america_ (1849). of his own writings his _republican court: or american society in the days of washington_ (1854) is the only one of permanent value. he edited the first american edition of milton's prose works (1845), and, as literary executor, edited, with james r. lowell and n. p. willis, the works (1850) of edgar allan poe. griswold's great contemporary reputation as a critic has not stood the test of time; but he rendered a valuable service in making americans better acquainted with the poetry and prose of their own countrymen. see _passages from the correspondence and other papers of rufus w. griswold_ (cambridge, mass., 1898), edited by his son william mccrillis griswold (1853-1899).