John Foster Kirk
Encyclopedia
John Foster Kirk was an American
historian, journalist, educator and bibliographer.
Kirk was educated privately in Nova Scotia
and came to the United States in 1842. From 1847 to 1859 he was secretary to the historian William H. Prescott
, accompanying Prescott to Europe in 1850 and editing Prescott's works after his death. He contributed to the North American Review
, the Atlantic Monthly, and other periodicals. In 1870 he moved to Philadelphia, where he edited Lippincott's Monthly Magazine
from 1870 to 1886. In 1886 he became Lecturer in European History at the University of Pennsylvania
. In 1891 he published a two-volume Supplement to Samuel Austin Allibone
's Critical dictionary of English literature.
Kirk's second wife was the novelist Ellen Warner Olney, daughter of the geographer Jesse Olney
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
historian, journalist, educator and bibliographer.
Kirk was educated privately in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
and came to the United States in 1842. From 1847 to 1859 he was secretary to the historian William H. Prescott
William H. Prescott
William Hickling Prescott was an American historian and Hispanist, who is widely recognized by historiographers to have been the first American scientific historian...
, accompanying Prescott to Europe in 1850 and editing Prescott's works after his death. He contributed to the North American Review
North American Review
The North American Review was the first literary magazine in the United States. Founded in Boston in 1815 by journalist Nathan Hale and others, it was published continuously until 1940, when publication was suspended due to J. H. Smyth, who had purchased the magazine, being unmasked as a Japanese...
, the Atlantic Monthly, and other periodicals. In 1870 he moved to Philadelphia, where he edited Lippincott's Monthly Magazine
Lippincott's Monthly Magazine
Lippincott's Monthly Magazine was a 19th century literary magazine published in Philadelphia from 1868 to 1915, when it relocated to New York to become McBride's Magazine. It merged with Scribner's Magazine in 1916....
from 1870 to 1886. In 1886 he became Lecturer in European History at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. In 1891 he published a two-volume Supplement to Samuel Austin Allibone
Samuel Austin Allibone
Samuel Austin Allibone was an American author and bibliographer.-Biography:He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of French Huguenot and Quaker ancestry. He was privately educated and for many years was engaged in mercantile business in his native city...
's Critical dictionary of English literature.
Kirk's second wife was the novelist Ellen Warner Olney, daughter of the geographer Jesse Olney
Jesse Olney
Jesse Olney was a geographer. He was particularly active in the improvement of school textbooks on this subject, and was amply rewarded by substantial sales, second only to Webster's American Spelling Book.-Biography:He was educated at Whitesboro, New York, became a teacher at Whitesborough and...
.
Works
- A History of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, 3 vols, 8vo, 1863-67.
- (ed.) Works of William H. Prescott, 1870-1874.
- A supplement to Allibone's Critical dictionary of English literature and British and American authors. Containing over thirty-seven thousand articles (authors), and enumerating over ninety-three thousand titles, 1891