Cooper, James Feni more

(1789-1851), was born in Burlington, N.J. He entered the navy in 1801, but resigned in 1811. In 1821 he published ‘‘ The Spy,’ the first of his historical novels and one of the first of American historical novels. This was followed by ‘‘The Pioneers,’’ ‘The Last of the Mohicans,” and a long series of romantic novels dealing with the Revolution, frontier life, sea life and the American Indian. He alao wrote a history of the American Navy.