Diary in America, Series One

Diary in America, Series One

Author: Captain Marryat (1792-1848)

Year: 1837

Captain Marryat visted America in 1836-37 and wrote his observations in two series, each of three volumes. It is worth a dip, but don't take it seriously, just as we would not take seriously a book of notes uppn England by a foreigner. Frederick Marryat was born in Great George Street, Westminster, London on 10th July 1792. His father, Joseph Marryat, was descended from Huguenots who had taken refuge in England following the St. Bartholemew’s Day massacres in 1572, two centuries previously, and his mother was an American from Boston, with the maiden name of Geyer. Frederick's grandfather was Dr. Thomas Marryat, an extremely eccentric physician, who had died, impoverished, in Bristol just before Frederick's birth. Frederick's father Joseph, however, was very wealthy, partly by inheritance and marriage, and partly by his own endeavours. He was a Member of Parliament for Sandwich, the Chairman of Lloyd's, and Agent for Grenada in the West Indies. They lived in Wimbledon, and sent their second son – Frederick – to Mr. Freeman's private school at Ponders End, now a district of North London. Frederick was very interested in the sea, and tried several times to run away to it. He relates i