Meredith Nicholson
Encyclopedia
Meredith Nicholson was a best-selling author
from Indiana
, United States
, a politician
, and a diplomat
.
, to Edward Willis Nicholson and the former Emily Meredith. Largely self-taught, Nicholson began a newspaper
career in 1884 at the Indianapolis Sentinel. He moved to the Indianapolis News
the following year, where he remained until 1897.
He wrote Short Flights in 1891, and continued to publish extensively, both poetry
and prose
until 1928. During the first quarter of the 20th century, Nicholson, along with Booth Tarkington
, George Ade
, and James Whitcomb Riley
helped to create a Golden Age of literature in Indiana. Three of his books from that era were national bestseller
s:
In 1928, Nicholson entered Democratic party
politics
, and served for two years as a city councilman in Indianapolis
. He rose through the ranks of the Democratic party and was rewarded with appointments as Envoy to Paraguay
, Venezuela
, and Nicaragua
.
Nicholson died on December 22, 1947 in Indianapolis, aged 81, and is buried in the Crown Hill Cemetery
.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
from Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, a politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and a diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
.
Biography
Nicholson was born on December 9, 1866 in Crawfordsville, IndianaCrawfordsville, Indiana
Crawfordsville is a city in Union Township, Montgomery County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 15,915. The city is the county seat of Montgomery County...
, to Edward Willis Nicholson and the former Emily Meredith. Largely self-taught, Nicholson began a newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
career in 1884 at the Indianapolis Sentinel. He moved to the Indianapolis News
Indianapolis News
The Indianapolis News was an evening newspaper published for 130 years, beginning December 7, 1869, and ending on October 1, 1999. At one time it had the largest circulation in the state of Indiana, and was the oldest Indianapolis newspaper in existence....
the following year, where he remained until 1897.
He wrote Short Flights in 1891, and continued to publish extensively, both poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
and prose
Prose
Prose is the most typical form of written language, applying ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow of speech rather than rhythmic structure...
until 1928. During the first quarter of the 20th century, Nicholson, along with Booth Tarkington
Booth Tarkington
Booth Tarkington was an American novelist and dramatist best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning novels The Magnificent Ambersons and Alice Adams...
, George Ade
George Ade
George Ade was an American writer, newspaper columnist, and playwright.-Biography:Ade was born in Kentland, Indiana, one of seven children raised by John and Adaline Ade. While attending Purdue University, he became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity...
, and James Whitcomb Riley
James Whitcomb Riley
James Whitcomb Riley was an American writer, poet, and best selling author. During his lifetime he was known as the Hoosier Poet and Children's Poet for his dialect works and his children's poetry respectively...
helped to create a Golden Age of literature in Indiana. Three of his books from that era were national bestseller
Bestseller
A bestseller is a book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on lists of currently top selling titles that are based on publishing industry and book trade figures and published by newspapers, magazines, or bookstore chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and...
s:
- The House of a Thousand Candles (#4 in 1906)
- The Port of Missing Men (#3 in 1907)
- A Hoosier Chronicle (#5 in 1912)
In 1928, Nicholson entered Democratic party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
, and served for two years as a city councilman in Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. He rose through the ranks of the Democratic party and was rewarded with appointments as Envoy to Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, and Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
.
Nicholson died on December 22, 1947 in Indianapolis, aged 81, and is buried in the Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery, located at 700 West 38th Street in Indianapolis, is the third largest non-governmental cemetery in the United States at . It contains of paved road, over 150 species of trees and plants, over 185,000 graves, and services roughly 1,500 burials per year. It sits on the highest...
.