James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851)
Author of The Last of the Mohicans
About the Author
James Fenimore Cooper, acclaimed as one of the first American novelists, was born in Burlington, N.J., on September 15, 1789. When he was one year old, his family moved to Cooperstown, N.Y., which was founded by his father. Cooper attended various grammar schools in Burlington, Cooperstown, and show more Albany, and entered Yale University in 1803 at the age of 13. In 1806, Cooper was expelled from Yale for pushing a rag with gunpowder under a classmate's door, causing it to explode. He then spent some time as a merchant seaman and served as a midshipman in the U.S. Navy from 1808-1811. In 1811, Cooper married Susan De Lancey, and lived the life of a country gentleman until one day in 1820. Cooper and his wife were reading a book together. When Cooper told Susan that he could write a better book than the one they were reading, she challenged him to do so. Thus began his career as an author, with Precaution (first published anonymously). Cooper is known for writing more than 50 works under his own name, Jane Morgan, and Anonymous. His works included fiction, nonfiction, history, and travel sketches. He gained insight for his travel works while the Cooper family lived in Europe from 1826 to 1833. Cooper is best known for the novel The Last of The Mohicans, which has been made into several motion picture adaptations, the most recent starring Daniel Day-Lewis as Hawkeye. The Last of the Mohicans is part of The Leatherstocking Tales, which includes the other novels, The Pioneers, The Deerslayer, and The Pathfinder. Hawkeye, whose given name is Nathaniel Bumpo, is a recurring character in the series which accurately chronicles early American pioneering life and events during the French and Indian War. In 1851, Cooper developed a liver condition, dying on September 14th of that year, just one day before his 62nd birthday. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: George Henry Durrie self-portrait
Series
Works by James Fenimore Cooper
The American Democrat; or, hints on the social and civic relations of the United States of America (1838) 161 copies
Collected Works of James Fenimore Cooper (Including The last of The Mohicans and The Spy) (1941) 13 copies
The Ways of the Hour / The Wing-and-Wing / The Wept of Wish-ton-Wish / Precaution (1820) — Author — 9 copies
A Residence in France With an Excursion Up the Rhine, and a Second Visit to Switzerland (2006) 8 copies
The Best Known Works of James Fenimore Cooper, Including The Last of the Mohicans and The Spy (1942) 6 copies
La Sentimulo (Facila Esperanto) — Author — 6 copies
Leatherstocking Tales ( Volume 1) 5 copies
Lederstrumpf-Romane: Der letzte Mohikaner. Der Pfadfinder (Die grosse Erzähler-Bibliothek der Weltliteratur) (1986) — Author — 5 copies
The Last of the Mohicans, V. 1 3 copies
El último mohicano para estudiantes de español. Libro de lectura: The Last of the Mohicans For Spanish learners.… (2014) 3 copies
Reading & Training : James Fenimore Cooper : The last of the Mohicans [book + sound recording] (2003) — Writer — 3 copies
James Fenimore Cooper: Representative Selections, with Introduction, Bibliography, and Notes (1977) 3 copies
The Last of the Mohicans (illustrated) The Pathfinder The Deerslayer (3 Unabridged Classics) (2013) 2 copies
La pradera 2 copies
Rajaleidja, ehk, Sisemeri : [romaan] 2 copies
The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper & Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses (2012) 2 copies
The Collected Works of James Fenimore Cooper: The Complete Works PergamonMedia (Highlights of World Literature)… (2015) 2 copies
The First James Fenimore Cooper's Collected Works: The Last of the Mohicans, The Pioneers , The Spy and More ( 10… (2015) 2 copies
Precaution / The Ways of the Hour — Author — 2 copies
Robinson Crusoe, Treasure Island, Rip Van Winkle, Kidnapped, The White Company, The Black Arrow, The Deerslayer, The… (1997) 2 copies
The Last of the Mohicans (illustrated) + The Pathfinder + The Deerslayer (3 Unabridged Classics) 2 copies
The Last of the Mohicans By J. Fenimore Cooper. Bancroft Classics, Abridged. C1967, This Book 1973. 160 Pages, Printed… (1973) 2 copies
The World'ds Greatest Literature 2 copies
The History of the Navy of the United States of America, Vol. 1 of 2 (Classic Reprint) (2012) 2 copies
Ojo de halcón 2 copies
EL CAZADOR DE CIERVOS II 2 copies
Piraten - Die großen Romane: Der rote Freibeuter - Klaus Störtebeker - Der schwarze Korsar - Die Schatzinsel (2017) 2 copies
L'ultimo dei Mohicani 2 copies
Tutte le avventure di calza di cuoio 2 copies
The Letters and Journals of James Fenimore Cooper. Edited By James Franklin Beard. Vol. IV. 2 copies
The Deerslayer, Part 8 2 copies
The Complete Works of James Fenimore Cooper (32 Complete Works of James Fenimore Cooper Including The Last of the… (1893) 2 copies
The Water-Witch / The Crater — Author — 2 copies
Works of James Fenimore Cooper. (35 Works). Includes The Last of the Mohicans, Homeward Bound, Autobiography of a… (2007) 2 copies
The Headsman / The Heidenmauer — Author — 2 copies
The Red Rover / The Wing-and-Wing 2 copies
The Last of the Mohicans, V. 2 — Author — 2 copies
Cooper James Fenimore 2 copies
The last of the Mohicans : a narrative of 1757, with designs based on bead-work of the Eastern Woodland tribes (1981) 2 copies
The works of J. Fenimore Cooper. 2 copies
Romanzi 1 copy
The Pathfinder Illustrated 1 copy
Ravensnest, or, The redskins 1 copy
Una Colonia sobre un volcán 1 copy
The Jack o'lantern 1 copy
Poslední Mohykán 1 copy
Il corsaro rosso: romanzo 1 copy
The Last of the Mohicians 1 copy
The Leatherstocking Tales: The Library of America Edition by James Fenimore Cooper (2012-01-19) 1 copy
Lovec jelenů 1 copy
The borderers : a tale 1 copy
The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers,The Red Badge of Courage,The Last of the Mohicans,The man in the Iron… (2009) 1 copy
Pren 1 copy
EXCURSIONS IN SWITZERLAND 1 copy
Шпион ; Последний из могикан 1 copy
The Three Musketeers 1 copy
THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS 1 copy
Der Wildtöter, Teil 10 1 copy
Die Wildjagter 1 copy
Lionel Lincoln, or, The leaguer of Boston, (complete in one volume) historical novel: By J. F. Cooper (James Fenimore… (2016) 1 copy
Lederstrumpf Erzählungen 1 copy
The Last of the Mohicans 1 copy
El darrer dels mohicans I 1 copy
El darrer dels mohicans II 1 copy
El darrer dels mohicans III 1 copy
Excursions in Italy 1 copy
Onder die Rooihuide 1 copy
Cooper's Naval History 1 copy
The Spy 1 copy
The Prairie, The Spy 1 copy
The 1 copy
F, Coopers Works 1 copy
The Deerslayer 1 copy
Cooper's Works, Vol. VIII 1 copy
Cooper's Works, Vol. XIV 1 copy
Cooper's Works, Vol. XIII 1 copy
Cooper's Works, Vol. XII 1 copy
Cooper's Works, Vol. XI 1 copy
Cooper's Works, Vol. X 1 copy
Cooper's Works, Vol. IX 1 copy
Cooper's Works, Vol. VII 1 copy
Útmutató 1 copy
Cooper's Works, Vol. VI 1 copy
Cooper's Work's, Vol. V 1 copy
Cooper's Works, Vol. IV 1 copy
Cooper's Works, Vol. III 1 copy
Cooper's Works, Vol. II 1 copy
Cooper's Works, Vol. I 1 copy
The History of the Navy of the United States of America, Vol. 2 of 2 (Classic Reprint) (2012) 1 copy
Zvērkāvis : stāsts 1 copy
TALES OF THE SEA: 12 Maritime Adventure Novels in One Volume (Illustrated): Including the Biography of the Author and… (2017) 1 copy
El jefe indio 1 copy
Indián történetek 1 copy
England. With sketches of society in the metropolis. [Including Fenimore Cooper's "Letter to his Countrymen."] (2011) 1 copy
Lederstrumpf-Geschichten II 1 copy
A letter to his countrymen 1 copy
The Pathfinder, simplified 1 copy
The Last of the Mohicans / The Pioneers — Author — 1 copy
S&S Little Classics 1 copy
Naval History to 1856 1 copy
Captain Spike (3 vols.) 1 copy
The Prarie (abridged) 1 copy
The Pioneers (abridged) 1 copy
The Deerslayer (abridged) 1 copy
The Malay Proas 1 copy
Bijägaren 1 copy
The Pathfinder (abridged) 1 copy
El Robinsón americano 1 copy
LOVEC JELEŇOV 1 copy
Der Spion Band 1 1 copy
Hutted Knoll 1 copy
“Eclipse” 1 copy
The Piolt 1 copy
Stanstoe 1 copy
The Ways of the Hours 1 copy
HIl Icacciatore di daini 1 copy
Lederstrumpf - Erzählungen 1 copy
Os Pioneiros I Livro 1 1 copy
Os Pioneiros II Livro 1 1 copy
Cooper's Naval History 1 copy
פזמק העור 1 copy
Leatherstocking Tales Vol II 1 copy
The Last of the Mohicans, F2 1 copy
Der rote Freibeuter & Die Wassernixe (2 Abenteuerromane): Abenteuerromane des Autors von Der letzte Mohikaner und Der… (2017) — Author — 1 copy
Sea Lions/Jack Tier 1 copy
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER: 30 Novels in One Volume - Western Classics, Adventure Novels & Sea Tales (Illustrated Edition):… (2017) 1 copy
Ausgewählte Wildwestromane von James Fenimore Cooper: Der letzte Mohikaner Der Wildtöter Die Steppe Der Pfadfinder… (2017) 1 copy
Los primeros plantadores — Author — 1 copy
The Spy/Wyandotte 1 copy
Satanstoe / The Chainbearer — Author — 1 copy
The Pilot / The Two Admirals — Author — 1 copy
Classic Starts?: The Last of the Mohicans (Classic Starts(TM) Series) by James Fenimore Cooper (2008-02-05) (1605) 1 copy
The French Revolution 1 copy
LO STERMINATORE 1 copy
El Bravo - Tomo I 1 copy
The Prairie / The Wept of Wish-Ton-Wish — Author — 1 copy
The Pathfinders 1 copy
Associated Works
The Heath Anthology of American Literature, Volume 1 (1990) — Contributor, some editions — 256 copies
Writing New York: A Literary Anthology (Expanded 10th-Anniversary Edition) (2008) — Contributor — 93 copies
American Literature: The Makers and the Making (In Two Volumes) (1973) — Contributor, some editions — 25 copies
The Tavern Lamps Are Burning: Literary Journeys through Six Regions and Four Centuries of New York State (1964) — Contributor — 20 copies
Marvel Illustrated: The Last of the Mohicans #1 (of 6) — Contributor — 5 copies
Representative American Short Stories — Contributor — 5 copies
Die schönsten Bücher für junge Leser — Scarlet Pimpernel | Der letzte Mohikaner | Knulp | Irgendwo in Tibet (1973) — Contributor — 3 copies
Marvel Illustrated: The Last of the Mohicans #2 (of 6) — Contributor — 2 copies
Marvel Illustrated: The Last of the Mohicans #4 (of 6) — Contributor — 2 copies
Marvel Illustrated: The Last of the Mohicans #5 (of 6) — Contributor — 2 copies
Marvel Illustrated: The Last of the Mohicans #6 (of 6) — Contributor — 2 copies
Marvel Illustrated: The Last of the Mohicans #3 (of 6) — Contributor — 2 copies
One hundred best novels condensed: 3 of 4 see note: Adam Bede; Tess of the D'Urbervilles; Don Quixote; East Lynne;… — Contributor — 1 copy
The princess's story book — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Cooper, James Fenimore
- Legal name
- Cooper, James Fenimore
- Other names
- Cooper, James F.
- Birthdate
- 1789-09-15
- Date of death
- 1851-09-14
- Burial location
- Christ Churchyard, Cooperstown, New York, USA
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Burlington, New Jersey, USA
- Place of death
- Cooperstown, New Jersey, USA
- Places of residence
- Ostego Hall, Cooperstown, New York, USA
Cooperstown, New York, USA
New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Westchester County, New York, USA
Scarsdale, New York, USA
New York, New York, USA (show all 7)
Lyon, France - Education
- Albany Academy for Boys
Yale College - Occupations
- writer
sailor
consul - Relationships
- Cooper, Paul Fenimore (great-grandson)
Woolson, Constance Fenimore (great-niece)
Lafayette, Marquis de (friend)
Morse, Samuel (friend)
Cooper Jr., James Fenimore (great-grandson)
Cooper, Susan Fenimore (daughter) - Organizations
- United States Navy
- Awards and honors
- The Hall of Fame for Great Americans (1910)
- Short biography
- James Fenimore Cooper (September 15, 1789 – September 14, 1851) was an American writer of the first half of the 19th century. His historical romances depicting frontier and Native American life from the 17th to the 19th centuries created a unique form of American literature. He lived much of his boyhood and the last fifteen years of life in Cooperstown, New York, which was founded by his father William on property that he owned. Cooper became a member of the Episcopal Church shortly before his death and contributed generously to it. He attended Yale University for three years, where he was a member of the Linonian Society.
After a stint on a commercial voyage, Cooper served in the U.S. Navy as a midshipman, where he learned the technology of managing sailing vessels which greatly influenced many of his novels and other writings. The novel that launched his career was The Spy, a tale about espionage set during the American Revolutionary War and published in 1821. He also created American sea stories. His best-known works are five historical novels of the frontier period, written between 1823 and 1841, known as the Leatherstocking Tales, which introduced the iconic American frontier scout, Natty Bumppo. Cooper's works on the U.S. Navy have been well received among naval historians, but they were sometimes criticized by his contemporaries. Among his most famous works is the Romantic novel The Last of the Mohicans, often regarded as his masterpiece. Throughout his career, he published numerous social, political, and historical works of fiction and non-fiction with the objective of countering European prejudices and nurturing an original American art and culture.
Members
Discussions
Leatherstocking Tales in Easton Press Collectors (April 2023)
Correspondence of James Fenimore-Cooper in Book talk (September 2021)
Reviews
Lists
Best Spy Fiction (1)
Pioneers (1)
Unread books (1)
My TBR (2)
1820s (3)
19th Century (3)
Out of Copyright (3)
Favourite Books (3)
Best War Stories (2)
Overdue Podcast (1)
War Literature (1)
100 (1)
A Reading List (1)
Victorian Period (1)
AP Lit (1)
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 456
- Also by
- 34
- Members
- 27,117
- Popularity
- #762
- Rating
- 3.5
- Reviews
- 299
- ISBNs
- 2,669
- Languages
- 29
- Favorited
- 28