| Nathaniel Deering
Leola Chaplin Ellis, The Life and Works of Nathaniel Deering (1791-1881) with the Text of Deering's Plays Carabasset and The Clairvoyants (Orono, Maine: Maine University Press, 1934)(Vol. 37, no. 1, Maine Bulletin, August, 1934) Nathaniel Deering (his first name is sometimes spelled Nathanael) is a native of Portland, Mainr. He studied at the Philips Exeter Academy and at Cambridge, where he graduated at Harvard in 1810. He studied law in the office of Chief Justice Whitman at Portland, and took up the practice of law in northern Maine, and then returned to Portland. He is now best known for two tragedies, but he was also a poet. [Evert A. Duyckinck & George L. Duyckinck, Cyclopaedia of American Literature 336 (New York: C. Scribner, 1856)(vol.2)] Deering was born on June 25, 1795. "For a short time after leaving college Mr. Deering was engaged in mercantile life, but deciding afterwards upon law as a profession, he began legal studies in the office of Judge Esekiel Whitman, and was admitted to the bar in 1815. He commenced the practice of his profession that part of Canaan, Me., now called Sknowhegan. Mr. Deering returned to Portland in 1836. There for some time he edited a political paper called the 'Independent Statesman,' which was founded in 1822, in the interests of Henry Clay for the presidency, and of Gen Wingate for the governship. Finding literature more attractive than law, Mr. Deering began gradually to withdraw from his former vocation. In 1830 he wrote a play entitled 'Carabasset; or, The Last of the Norridgecocks.' A few years later he wrote 'The Clairvoyant,' a comedy which was freqeuntly represented on the stage both at Portland and in Boston. His tragedy of 'Bozzaris,' published in 1851, was the most finished of his works, while the best know short stories of his are: 'The Donation Visit'; 'Timotheus Tuttle'; 'Tableaux Vivants,' and 'Mrs. Sykes.' He was a man of brilliant wit, and his sparkling repartees will not soon be forgotten in his native city. Mr. Deering was also a composer of church music. . . . [He] had nine children. Mr. Deering died near Portland, March 25, 1881." [The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography 250 (New York: James T. White & Co., 1910)(vol. 10)][online text] Writings Nathaniel Deering, Carabasset, a Tragedy in five acts (Portland: S. Coleman, 1830)(produced at the Portland Theatre in 1831) ______________, Bozzaris, a Tragedy, in five acts (Portland: J.S. Bailey, 1851) Bibliography Leola Chaplin Ellis, The Life and Works of Nathaniel Deering, 1791-1881, M.A. thesis (English), University of Maine, 1934 ______________, The Life and Works of Nathaniel Deering (1791-1881) with the Text of Deering's Plays Carabasset and The Clairvoyants (Orono, Maine: Maine University Press, 1934)(Vol. 37, no. 1, Maine Bulletin, August, 1934) Research Resources
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