James Fenimore Cooper Was Born on September 15, 1789, and May Be Considered by Some to Be an Accidental Author. He Never Showed

James Fenimore Cooper was born on September 15, 1789, and may be considered by some to be an accidental author. He never showed any interest in becoming an author while he was growing up in New York. He had a good education, attended Yale, joined the merchant service, and served in the United States Navy. His father died in 1809. James married in 1811 and settled down to manage his home and run a farm.

For nine years, this life seemed to suit him, but in 1820, he began writing a novel. This is the way The Book of Knowledge published by the Grolier Society in 1911 tells the story:

But, happening one day to read a story which he thought very poor, he asserted that he could do better himself, and half in fun, sat down to the writing of his first book. The title of this was ‘Precaution,’ and, although it is on the whole a very ordinary story, his friends seemed to like it. So he determined to become an author.

Other sources say it was a challenge from his wife that led him to write Precaution, but whichever account is true, it is clear that James had not pursued writing great literature, as many famous authors of the time had done. He did, however, study great models as he continued to write and improve his craft.

He is remembered for his books that bear a uniquely American flavor and setting. His second novel, The Spy, is set during the American Revolution. His “Leatherstocking” tales tell of life on the frontier and the adventures of Natty Bumppo in the novels The Pioneers, The Last of the Mohicans, The Prairie, The Pathfinder, and The Deerslayer.

James did not restrict his tales to land, however. He also wrote a series of novels set at sea and also wrote the nonfiction History of the Navy of the United States of America, which was published in 1839.

James died in 1851 in the town of Cooperstown, New York, the town his father had helped found.

On the following pages you will find a timeline of James Fenimore Cooper’s life and a notebooking page. Do some research into the life and work of James Fenimore Cooper and record your observations as you look more closely at the life of this famous author.

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James Fenimore Cooper

Timeline

James Fenimore Cooper was born 1789

1790 1811 1820 1823 1826 1827 1840

1841

1851

Died in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Moved to settlement in New York where father founded Cooperstown

The Pathfinder: The Inland Sea

Wrote first novel Precaution which was not successful

Married Susan Augusta DeLancey

The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757

The Pioneers: The Sources of the Susquehanna, A Descriptive Tale

The Prairie: A Tale

The Deerslayer: The First War Path

Answer Key James Fenimore Cooper

Timeline

James Fenimore Cooper was born 1789

Moved to settlement in New York where 1790 father founded Cooperstown

Married Susan Augusta DeLancey 1811 Wrote first novel Precaution which was 1820 not successful The Pioneers: The Sources of the Susquehanna, A Descriptive Tale 1823 The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative 1826 of 1757

The Prairie: A Tale 1827

1840 The Pathfinder: The Inland Sea

The Deerslayer: The First War Path 1841

1851 Died in Cooperstown, N.Y.