John Lauris Blake (December 21, 1788 – July 6, 1857) was an American clergyman and bestselling author. He is best known as the author of the General Biographical Dictionary.

Life

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John Lauris Blake was born on 21 December 1788 in Northwood, New Hampshire.[1] During his adolescence, he practiced cabinet making and at the same time prepared himself for college.[1] He graduated from Brown University in 1812,[1] and was licensed as a Congregational minister in 1813.[1]

Blake founded the Ladies' Magazine, served as headmaster of the Cornhill School for Young Ladies,[2] and was a member of the committee of Boston public schools.[1]

Blake was elected as a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1815.[3] A significant number of original 19th-century copies of works authored by Blake are held in the collections of the AAS.[4]

Bibliography

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Blake was an editor of the Literary Advertiser and the Gospel Advocate. His published books include:

  • A Text Book of Geography and Chronology (1814)
  • Anecdotes of American Indians (1835)
  • The Wonders of Art; Containing An Account of Celebrated Ancient Ruins; Fortifications; Public Edifices; Monuments; and some of The Most Curious and Useful Inventions in Modern Times (1845)
  • A General Biographical Dictionary (1835, 13th ed., 1856)
  • The Parlor Book or Family Encyclopædia of Useful Knowledge and General Literature (1837)[5]
  • Farm and Fireside (1852)
  • Farmer's Every Day Book (1852)
  • Evidences of Christianity (1852)
  • Modern Farmer (1853)
  • A Cyclopædia of Modern Agriculture (1856)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "history50states.com". Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Godey's Lady's Book: Sarah Josepha Hale Biography". www.uvm.edu. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  3. ^ "MemberListB". American Antiquarian Society. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  4. ^ "AAS Catalog Name Search". catalog.mwa.org. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  5. ^ Blake, John Lauris (1837-01-01). The parlor book: or, Family encyclopedia of useful knowledge and general literature ... ornamented with fine colored engravings. J. L. Piper.
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