George Washington Greene
Encyclopedia
George Washington Greene (April 8, 1811 - February 2, 1883) was an American historian
as well as the grandson of Major-General Nathanael Greene
, who served during the American Revolutionary War
.
.
He entered Bowdoin College
in 1824, but left in his junior year on account of ill-health. Greene traveled to Europe in the hopes of boosting his health. In 1828, while in Italy, he befriended Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
and served as the aspiring poet's traveling companion; their friendship lasted 54 years. Greene was in Europe during the majority of the next twenty years, except in 1833–1834, when he was principal of Kent Academy
at East Greenwich. He served as the United States consul
at Rome
from 1837 to 1845.
He was instructor in modern languages in Brown University
from 1848 to 1852. In 1853 he edited Joseph Addison
's works, with copious notes (6 vols., New York). He took up his residence at East Greenwich in 1865, and soon afterward was chosen to represent the town in the legislature. He made speeches in 1867 and 1869 on the ratification of the 14th and 15th amendments to the constitution of the United States. In 1871-1875 was non-resident lecturer in American history in the Department of History
at Cornell University
.
When he returned to East Greenwich, his good friend Longfellow purchased a home for him, which is still standing at 144 Division Street
. Shortly after, a windmill
was attached to the house.
Greene died at East Greenwich, Rhode Island, on February 2, 1883. He was canoeing down a river with a friend and drowned. His grave stands next to his father's.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
as well as the grandson of Major-General Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. When the war began, Greene was a militia private, the lowest rank possible; he emerged from the war with a reputation as George Washington's most gifted and dependable officer. Many places in the United...
, who served during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Biography
George Washington Greene was born on April 8, 1811 in East Greenwich, Rhode IslandEast Greenwich, Rhode Island
East Greenwich is a town in and the county seat of Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 13,146 at the 2010 census. East Greenwich is the wealthiest municipality within the state of Rhode Island....
.
He entered Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
in 1824, but left in his junior year on account of ill-health. Greene traveled to Europe in the hopes of boosting his health. In 1828, while in Italy, he befriended Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and educator whose works include "Paul Revere's Ride", The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline...
and served as the aspiring poet's traveling companion; their friendship lasted 54 years. Greene was in Europe during the majority of the next twenty years, except in 1833–1834, when he was principal of Kent Academy
East Greenwich Academy
The East Greenwich Academy was a private Methodist boarding school in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, USA that was in existence from 1802 until 1943.-History:...
at East Greenwich. He served as the United States consul
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
at Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
from 1837 to 1845.
He was instructor in modern languages in Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
from 1848 to 1852. In 1853 he edited Joseph Addison
Joseph Addison
Joseph Addison was an English essayist, poet, playwright and politician. He was a man of letters, eldest son of Lancelot Addison...
's works, with copious notes (6 vols., New York). He took up his residence at East Greenwich in 1865, and soon afterward was chosen to represent the town in the legislature. He made speeches in 1867 and 1869 on the ratification of the 14th and 15th amendments to the constitution of the United States. In 1871-1875 was non-resident lecturer in American history in the Department of History
Cornell University Department of History
|- valign="top" ! style="border-top: solid 1px #aaaaaa;" | College | style="border-top: solid 1px #aaaaaa;" | Arts and Sciences |- valign="top" ! style="border-top: solid 1px #aaaaaa;" | Department Chair | style="border-top: solid 1px #aaaaaa;" | Barry Strauss...
at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
.
When he returned to East Greenwich, his good friend Longfellow purchased a home for him, which is still standing at 144 Division Street
Windmill Cottage
Windmill Cottage is a historic house and former windmill at 144 Division Street in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. It was the home of George Washington Greene, a former American consul to Rome and historian. It was purchased for Greene by his friend, the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.-History:The...
. Shortly after, a windmill
Windmill
A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
was attached to the house.
Greene died at East Greenwich, Rhode Island, on February 2, 1883. He was canoeing down a river with a friend and drowned. His grave stands next to his father's.
Selected list of works
- FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and ItalianItalian languageItalian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
text-books - Historical Studies (1850)
- Biographical Studies (1860)
- Historical View of the American Revolution (1865)
- Life of Nathanael Greene (3 vols, 1867–1871)
- The German Element in the War of American Independence (1876)
- Short History of Rhode Island (1877).