Home

Log In

Create Biography

Back to Profile

Frank Goodrich

journalist playwright author

February 14, 1826 (age 68)

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Goodrich lived in Paris from 1851 to 1855. By reason of his father’s position, and his own social and literary associations, he was able to keep in touch with the leading figures and events of the period which saw the Coup d’État of 1852, and Louis Napoleon’s marriage and elevation to the throne. In a series of letters contributed to the New York Times over the signature Dick Tinto and published in 1855 as his first book, under the title Tricolored Sketches in Paris, he gave a vivid and readable account of life and incidents in that city as he saw them. Returning from Paris in 1855, he settled in New York and became active in its literary circles. Prominent among the plays in which he had a share were two with Frank L. Warden, Fascination, performed January 2, 1857, at Tripler Hall and revived several times in the years 1888-90, and Romance after Marriage, or The Maiden Wife, a comedy in three acts developing a situation in Octave Feuillet’s La Clé d’Or, performed at Wallack’s Theatre in November 1857; The Dark Hour before Dawn, with John Brougham, published in 1859; and The Poor of New York, with Dion Boucicault. This last play had a conspicuous success, from which Boucicault, especially, profited. In 1860, there appeared The Greatness and Decline of César Birotteau, the first of a projected series of translations of the novels of Balzac, in which Goodrich collaborated with Orlando Williams Wight. This volume was followed in the next year by The Petty Annoyances of Married Life, The Alchemist, and Eugénie Grandet. The series was then discontinued, to be resumed in 1886 by a Boston publishing house. At the end of the war, stung by criticisms of the people of the North, he compiled in refutation a volume known as The Tribute Book, a Record of the Munificence, Sacrifice, and Patriotism of the American People during the War for the Union (1865). His eyesight began to fail shortly after this period, and his literary production dwindled. He spent some years traveling abroad. In 1871, he republished his Women of Beauty and Heroism under the new title World Famous Women, a Portrait Gallery of Female Loveliness, Achievement, and Influence; from Semiramis to Eugénie, and in 1873 issued, under the title Remarkable Voyages, a new edition of the popular Man Upon the Sea. In his later years, his eye trouble caused him to relinquish all idea of further literary work. He died at Morristown in his sixty- eighth year.

Back to Profile

Photos
Works

Main Photo

School period

College/University

Career

Achievements

Membership

Awards

Other Photos

Connections

Connections

Back to Profile

Photos
Works

book

The Tribute Book. A record of the munificence, self-sacrifice, and patriotism of the American People during the war for the Union. Illustrated.

(Mark Twain once famously said "there was but one solitary...)

The Sea and Her Famous Sailors (Classic Reprint)

(Excerpt from The Sea and Her Famous Sailors The sea is ...)

World Famous Women Types of Female Heroism Beaut and Influence from the Earliest Ages to the present time (Women in History Book 10)

(CLEOPATBA, .... C^rUa Staal, . . W,J, Edwards, Ihmtispiee...)

Tricolored Sketches in Paris: During the Years 1851-2-3

(This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

Man upon the sea; or, A history of maritime adventure, exploration, and discovery, from the earliest ages to the present time ... By Frank B. Goodrich.

Flirtation, and What Comes of It: A Comedy in Five Acts

(This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

Tricolored Sketches in Paris: During the Years 1851-2-3

(This is a reproduction of a classic text optimised for ki...)

The dark hour before dawn

(This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

Women of beauty and heroism: from Semiramis to Eugenie, a portrait gallery of female loveliness,

(This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)

The Court of Napoleon: Or, Society Under the First Empire; with Portraits of Its Beauties, Wits and Heroines

(This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before ...)

Ocean's Story; Or, Triumphs of Thirty Centuries: A Graphic Description of Maritime Adventures ...

(This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

Man Upon the Sea: Or, a History of Maritime Adventure, Exploration, and Discovery, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time ...

(This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

Frank Boott Goodrich

Edit Profile

journalist playwright author

Background

Frank Boott Goodrich was born on December 14, 1826, in Boston, Massachusets. He was the son of Samuel Griswold Goodrich, better known as Peter Parley, and his second wife, Mary Boott.

Education

Goodrich graduated from Harvard in 1845, and in 1851, when his father was appointed United States consul at Paris, accompanied the family to France.

Career

Goodrich lived in Paris from 1851 to 1855. By reason of his father’s position, and his own social and literary associations, he was able to keep in touch with the leading figures and events of the period which saw the Coup d’État of 1852, and Louis Napoleon’s marriage and elevation to the throne.

In a series of letters contributed to the New York Times over the signature Dick Tinto and published in 1855 as his first book, under the title Tricolored Sketches in Paris, he gave a vivid and readable account of life and incidents in that city as he saw them.

Returning from Paris in 1855, he settled in New York and became active in its literary circles.

Prominent among the plays in which he had a share were two with Frank L. Warden, Fascination, performed January 2, 1857, at Tripler Hall and revived several times in the years 1888-90, and Romance after Marriage, or The Maiden Wife, a comedy in three acts developing a situation in Octave Feuillet’s La Clé d’Or, performed at Wallack’s Theatre in November 1857; The Dark Hour before Dawn, with John Brougham, published in 1859; and The Poor of New York, with Dion Boucicault. This last play had a conspicuous success, from which Boucicault, especially, profited.

In 1860, there appeared The Greatness and Decline of César Birotteau, the first of a projected series of translations of the novels of Balzac, in which Goodrich collaborated with Orlando Williams Wight.

This volume was followed in the next year by The Petty Annoyances of Married Life, The Alchemist, and Eugénie Grandet. The series was then discontinued, to be resumed in 1886 by a Boston publishing house.

At the end of the war, stung by criticisms of the people of the North, he compiled in refutation a volume known as The Tribute Book, a Record of the Munificence, Sacrifice, and Patriotism of the American People during the War for the Union (1865).

His eyesight began to fail shortly after this period, and his literary production dwindled. He spent some years traveling abroad. In 1871, he republished his Women of Beauty and Heroism under the new title World Famous Women, a Portrait Gallery of Female Loveliness, Achievement, and Influence; from Semiramis to Eugénie, and in 1873 issued, under the title Remarkable Voyages, a new edition of the popular Man Upon the Sea.

In his later years, his eye trouble caused him to relinquish all idea of further literary work. He died at Morristown in his sixty- eighth year.

Achievements

Goodrich is known for his works include The Court of Napoleon, Man upon the Sea, The Tribute Book, and Women of Beauty and Heroism (The Goodrich Family in America).

Works

The Tribute Book. A record of the munificence, self-sacrifice, and patriotism of the American People during the war for the Union. Illustrated. The Tribute Book. A record of the munificence, self-sacrifice, and patriotism of the American People during the war for the Union. Illustrated.

The Sea and Her Famous Sailors (Classic Reprint) The Sea and Her Famous Sailors (Classic Reprint)

World Famous Women Types of Female Heroism Beaut and Influence from the Earliest Ages to the present time (Women in History Book 10) World Famous Women Types of Female Heroism Beaut and Influence from the Earliest Ages to the present time (Women in History Book 10)

Tricolored Sketches in Paris: During the Years 1851-2-3 Tricolored Sketches in Paris: During the Years 1851-2-3

Man upon the sea; or, A history of maritime adventure, exploration, and discovery, from the earliest ages to the present time ... By Frank B. Goodrich. Man upon the sea; or, A history of maritime adventure, exploration, and discovery, from the earliest ages to the present time ... By Frank B. Goodrich.

Flirtation, and What Comes of It: A Comedy in Five Acts Flirtation, and What Comes of It: A Comedy in Five Acts

Tricolored Sketches in Paris: During the Years 1851-2-3 Tricolored Sketches in Paris: During the Years 1851-2-3

The dark hour before dawn The dark hour before dawn

Women of beauty and heroism: from Semiramis to Eugenie, a portrait gallery of female loveliness, Women of beauty and heroism: from Semiramis to Eugenie, a portrait gallery of female loveliness,

The Court of Napoleon: Or, Society Under the First Empire; with Portraits of Its Beauties, Wits and Heroines The Court of Napoleon: Or, Society Under the First Empire; with Portraits of Its Beauties, Wits and Heroines

$Ocean\'s Story; Or, Triumphs of Thirty Centuries: A Graphic Description of Maritime Adventures ... Ocean\'s Story; Or, Triumphs of Thirty Centuries: A Graphic Description of Maritime Adventures ...$ Man Upon the Sea: Or, a History of Maritime Adventure, Exploration, and Discovery, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time ... Man Upon the Sea: Or, a History of Maritime Adventure, Exploration, and Discovery, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time ...

Man Upon the Sea: Or, a History of Maritime Adventure, Exploration, and Discovery, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time ... Man Upon the Sea: Or, a History of Maritime Adventure, Exploration, and Discovery, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time ...

book
- The Sea and Her Famous Sailors (Classic Reprint)
  (Excerpt from The Sea and Her Famous Sailors The sea is ...)
- Tricolored Sketches in Paris: During the Years 1851-2-3
  (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)
- Flirtation, and What Comes of It: A Comedy in Five Acts
  (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)
- The dark hour before dawn
  (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)
- Ocean's Story; Or, Triumphs of Thirty Centuries: A Graphic Description of Maritime Adventures ...
  (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)
- Man Upon the Sea: Or, a History of Maritime Adventure, Exploration, and Discovery, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time ...
  (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)
- The Tribute Book. A record of the munificence, self-sacrifice, and patriotism of the American People during the war for the Union. Illustrated.
  (Mark Twain once famously said "there was but one solitary...)
- Women of beauty and heroism: from Semiramis to Eugenie, a portrait gallery of female loveliness,
  (This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)
- Tricolored Sketches in Paris: During the Years 1851-2-3
  (This is a reproduction of a classic text optimised for ki...)
- The Court of Napoleon: Or, Society Under the First Empire; with Portraits of Its Beauties, Wits and Heroines
  (This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before ...)
- World Famous Women Types of Female Heroism Beaut and Influence from the Earliest Ages to the present time (Women in History Book 10)
  (CLEOPATBA, .... C^rUa Staal, . . W,J, Edwards, Ihmtispiee...)
- Man upon the sea; or, A history of maritime adventure, exploration, and discovery, from the earliest ages to the present time ... By Frank B. Goodrich.

Politics

A staunch Republican and supporter of the Union during the Civil War, Goodrich published The Tribute Book, A Record of the Munificence, Sacrifice, and Patriotism of the American People during the War for the Union (1865).

Personality

Goodrich's literary style was easy and clear, but his books were superficial and without permanent value.

He was a man of great dignity, brilliant conversational power, and a wide range of interests. He had independent means, and lived quietly in and near New York, enjoying the esteem of a small circle of intimate friends.

Quotes from others about the person

“He was unswerving in his friendships, though not demonstrative, a patriot, and a man of absolute honor, and in the still more private relations of life unsullied. ”

Connections

In 1859, Goodrich married Ella Schmidt, daughter of a Southern physician long resident in New York. they had no children.

Father:: Samuel Griswold (Peter Parley)
Mother:: Mary Boott
Wife:: Ella Schmidt