Washington Irving was born in New York City on April 3, 1789, toward the end of the Revolutionary War. His parents named him after George Washington. In 1809, Irving wrote his first book, A History of New-York from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty. This book poked fun at the local history and politics. Iving wrote many other satires, humorous stories that commented on people's beliefs and politics. Two of his most famous short stories are "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip van Winkle." Irving became one of America's first authors to make a career as a writer, and he is considered the father of the American short story.
