Ill 1811 Cooper resigned his commission in the navy and married Miss De Lancey, a member of the well-known New York family of that name and sister £7

wife and his friend, Charles Wilkes. The descriptions of English life and scenery gave it great popularity in England where it was re-published. The "Spy," which followed, was as thoroughly American, and obtained great success, not only iu this country, but abroad. It was almost immediately re-])ublished in all parts of l']urope. " The Pioneers" was the first of the series of frontier and Indian stories, on which

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

the novelist's reputation chiefly rests. It was followed by " The Pilot," the first of his sea-stories. Other novels followed in quick succession, and Cooper's reputation grew apace. He was also sharply criticised and became involved in various controversies, which culminated finally in a series of libel suits against his detractors in the newspapers. In 1826 he visited Europe, and upon his return to this country made his home at Cooperstown, N. Y. During his residence abroad (1826-33) he was everywhere received with marked attention. His literary activity was unchecked by his wanderings, and during his .stay in Europe he wrote a number of novels. After his return to this country he wrote the " Naval History of the United States," which excited an acrimonious di.scussion as to the correctness of his account of the battle of Lake Erie. In one of his libel suits Cooper defended, in person, the accuracy of his version of the battle. A lawyer, who was an auditor of the closing sentences of his argument, remarked, " I have heard nothing like it since the days of Emmet." Cooper continued to write with amazing fertility and vigor almost to the close of his life, which was terminated by dropsy, September 14, 1851.