Letters From London: Written During The Years 1802 And 1803 (1804)
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William Austin was born on March 2, 1778 in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, United States.
He came from the ancestors notorious in the affairs of Charleston, Massachusets in 1651.
His father Nathaniel was a pewterer by trade, but through speculation in real estate acquired some wealth. On November 19, 1766 he had married Margaret Rand, daughter of Deacon Isaac Rand of Charlestown. They had six children of whom William was the third. Though her husband was a staunch patriot, Margaret was a spirited Tory, and never failed to characterize each observance of Bunker Hill Day as "the celebration of a defeat. "
Political differences, however, seem never seriously to have disturbed the peace of the Austin family, for in later years William, an ardent Jeffersonian Republican, and his brother, Nathaniel, a strong Federalist, ran against each other for a seat in the General Court of Massachusetts with no lessening of their regard for each other.
Education
Before college William attended Rev. John Shaw's school in Haverhill.
In 1798 Austin graduated from Harvard. During the education years he adhered to the philosophy of Rousseau and wrote Strictures on Harward University. Later he reconsiderated his views.
Austin studied law in London at Lincoln's Inn in 1802-1803 and was the first chaplain in the navy chosen by goverment comission. During his stay in England William has been writing the Letters from London that later were published by William Pelham, a Boston bookseller.
Career
In 1803 Austin founded a large law practice in Charlestown actively participating in civic and political affairs.
In 1811, 1812, 1816, 1827, 1834 he represented Charlestown in the General Court and in 1821, 1822, 1823 - the County of Middlesex in the Senate.
In the convention of 1820 for revising the constitution of Massachusets Austin performed duties as a delegate.
Austin was involved in a duel on March 31, 1806 with James Henderson Elliot. Capt. Joseph Loring, Jr. , an officer in the militia, and a Democrat, was tried for alleged disobedience of orders. He was acquitted, but the court was sworn not to divulge its findings until they were approved or disapproved by Gen. Simon Elliot. The latter did nothing for several months. Political feeling was running high at the time, and all appeals to Gen. Elliot and the Governor, who were Federalists, failed to get Loring out of prison.
Austin wrote a letter, signed "Decius, " which was published in the Independent Chronicle of March 17, 1806, violently attacking the general for his part in the affair, and the latter's son, James, sent a challenge to the writer. Since duelling was forbidden in Massachusetts, the event took place near Providence. So bitter was the feeling that the parties fired three shots although the articles of agreement called for but two. Austin was wounded in the neck and thigh, but Elliot was uninjured.
Austin's varied activities left him little freedom for literature, and writing was more or less a pastime with him. Of the five stories which he wrote, one, however, not only had great popularity in its day, but has lived, and is of significance in the history of American fiction, "Peter Rugg, the Missing Man, " published in the New England Galaxy for September 10, 1824. The scene is laid in 1820, and the story is that of a man who, driving toward Boston with his little daughter, fifty years before, with a storm threatening, had sworn he would reach home that night or never see home again.
All the intervening years he had been seeking it in vain, and his old-fashioned chaise drawn by a galloping white-footed black horse, always heralding a storm, had become a frequent sight on the roads. With the exception of "Rip Van Winkle, " it is perhaps the most original and imaginative American tale before the days of Poe and Hawthorne.
The latter confessed that it made a deep impression upon him, and to the method of its art some critics have thought him indebted. The other stories are of less interest, but show imaginative ability, sense of humor, and the morality and mysticism of New England Puritanism.
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Views
Quotations:
"It's a very common thing for the imagination to paint for the senses, both in the visible and invisible world".
Personality
Austin was fervent in his convictions, independent, impulsive, quickly stirred to indignation by any apparent injustice, and blunt and forceful in the expression of his feelings.
Connections
Austin was married twice and had fourteen children. His first wife was Charlotte Williams, daughter of Deacon Isaac Williams, whom he married June 17, 1806. Charlotte died on December 10, 1820, and on October 3, 1822 he married Lucy Jones, daughter of Peter Jones of Charlestown.