Beter known by his pen name "Peter Parley," Samuel Griswold Goodrich was the author of children's histories and schoolbooks and publisher of magazines and almanacs.
Goodrich moved from his native Ridgefield, Connecticut to Hartford, and then to Boston in 1829. He there began publication of the literary magazine "The Token" with regular contributions by Nathaniel Hawthorne. These were Hawthorne's first-published works, and formed the basis for his later noted book "Twice-Told Tales."
One of the most prolific writers in American history, it is estimated that Goodrich authored some 170 books, many translated into other languages. At his death it was estimated that 8,000,000 copies of his books had been sold. One of these, "Peter Parley's Geography for Children" had reported sales of some 2,000,000.
Goodrich was a Massachusetts state representative in 1837 and from 1839 to 1839 was the State Senator from Roxbury, Massachusetts. Goodrich was later appointed Consul General at Paris by President Fillmore, a post he held until 1855. He died in New york City shortly after completing his last book, "History of the Animal Kingdom," dedicated to the noted Swiss paleontologist Louis Agassiz. He was also a veteran of the War of 1812, serving in the Connecticut state militia. He was also a direct descendant of Pilgrim leader William Brewster.
Beter known by his pen name "Peter Parley," Samuel Griswold Goodrich was the author of children's histories and schoolbooks and publisher of magazines and almanacs.
Goodrich moved from his native Ridgefield, Connecticut to Hartford, and then to Boston in 1829. He there began publication of the literary magazine "The Token" with regular contributions by Nathaniel Hawthorne. These were Hawthorne's first-published works, and formed the basis for his later noted book "Twice-Told Tales."
One of the most prolific writers in American history, it is estimated that Goodrich authored some 170 books, many translated into other languages. At his death it was estimated that 8,000,000 copies of his books had been sold. One of these, "Peter Parley's Geography for Children" had reported sales of some 2,000,000.
Goodrich was a Massachusetts state representative in 1837 and from 1839 to 1839 was the State Senator from Roxbury, Massachusetts. Goodrich was later appointed Consul General at Paris by President Fillmore, a post he held until 1855. He died in New york City shortly after completing his last book, "History of the Animal Kingdom," dedicated to the noted Swiss paleontologist Louis Agassiz. He was also a veteran of the War of 1812, serving in the Connecticut state militia. He was also a direct descendant of Pilgrim leader William Brewster.
Family Members
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Mrs Sally Worthington Goodrich Wolcott
1785–1842
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Abigail Goodrich Whittelsey
1788–1858
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Rev Charles Augustus Goodrich
1790–1862
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Katharine Chauncey Goodrich Dunbar
1791–1873
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Elihu Chauncey Goodrich
1795–1797
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Mary Anne Wolcott Goodrich Smith
1799–1872
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Emily Chauncey Goodrich
1801–1803
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Emily Chauncey Goodrich Mead
1805–1849
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