Washington Irving was born on April 3, 1783. He began to be published in 1802 with a series of observational letters. In 1815 the family business required that he move to England, the business failed but Irving decided to say in England and in 1819 published his first international success The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. He continued to write fiction, several of which would become classics. He also wrote many biographies as well as becoming the US Ambassador to Spain in the early 1840’s. He published under a variety of names during his career. As a best-selling author, Irving advocated writing as a legitimate profession and for its protection by stronger copyright laws.