John Bigelow

Here is a detailed biographical article on John Bigelow (1817–1911), the American author, journalist, diplomat, and public servant.

John Bigelow – Life, Career, and Legacy

Explore the life of John Bigelow (1817–1911): his roles as journalist, editor, diplomat, historian, and founder of cultural institutions. Learn about his major works, influence, and enduring contributions.

Introduction

John Bigelow (November 25, 1817 – December 19, 1911) was a multifaceted American figure: lawyer, editor, statesman, diplomat, historian, and man of letters. He is perhaps best known for discovering and editing Benjamin Franklin’s long-lost original Autobiography, for his diplomatic service in France during the Civil War, and for helping to found the New York Public Library.

Over a career spanning more than seven decades, Bigelow combined public service, writing, cultural advocacy, and international diplomacy. His life offers a rich lens into 19th-century America, transatlantic relations, and literary-historical enterprise.

Early Life and Education

John Bigelow was born in Malden-on-Hudson, New York (also given as “Bristol, N.Y.” in some sources) on November 25, 1817.

His family had deep roots in America. His father was Asa Bigelow, and his mother Lucy Isham (née) came from a longstanding American lineage.

Bigelow’s education was unconventional in some ways:

• He first attended Washington College in Hartford, Connecticut, starting early, but transferred after disputes with faculty.

• In 1834, he entered Union College (New York), where he graduated in 1835.

• At Union, he was an avid reader, investing long hours in the library, and joined campus societies such as Sigma Phi and the Philomathean Society.

After college, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1838.

Journalism, Reform & Early Public Service

Before his diplomatic career, Bigelow established himself in journalism, reform, and public projects.

• From 1849 to 1861, he was an editor and co-owner of the New York Evening Post, working closely with William Cullen Bryant.

• He engaged in prison reform. In 1845 he served as state inspector of New York’s Sing Sing prison, implementing measures to improve conditions and discipline.

• Politically, Bigelow began as a Democrat, but over time aligned with reform and anti-slavery causes: he joined the Free Soil Party and later the Republican Party.

His journalism and public reputation positioned him well for diplomatic appointments in the Civil War era.

Diplomatic Career & Civil War Service

One of Bigelow’s most significant roles came during the American Civil War, when he served in France.

• In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln appointed him U.S. Consul in Paris.

• Over time, he rose to Chargé d’Affaires, then Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Napoleon III’s court, ultimately serving as U.S. minister to France.

• During this time, he played a pivotal diplomatic role in preventing France from supplying warships to the Confederacy, which would have significantly aided the Southern war effort.

• He also negotiated with Napoleon about French troop withdrawal from Mexico, where France had installed Emperor Maximilian.

• After the war, during the Franco-Prussian War period, he lived in Germany for a time and cultivated a friendship with Otto von Bismarck.

Bigelow’s diplomatic efforts helped preserve Union interests abroad and ensured that European powers remained cautious about formal intervention.

Later Political Career & Cultural Leadership

After his diplomatic service, Bigelow returned to New York and continued in political, civic, and literary efforts.

• He allied closely with Samuel J. Tilden, serving as Tilden’s campaign manager in the disputed presidential election of 1876, and later as literary executor of Tilden’s estate.

• Bigelow served as Secretary of State of New York from 1876 to 1877.

• He became deeply involved in founding and shaping the New York Public Library (NYPL). The library was officially chartered in 1895, and Bigelow served as its first president.

• He also engaged in public advocacy around issues such as Panama Canal development, and exposing municipal corruption (e.g. Tammany Hall).

Thus, in his later years, Bigelow combined intellectual, cultural, and institutional investments to influence civic life beyond the political stage.

Literary & Scholarly Work

John Bigelow was not just a diplomat and public servant — he was a serious historian, editor, and author. Some of his major literary contributions include:

• The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (1868) — Bigelow purchased the original manuscript from William Temple Franklin (Benjamin Franklin’s grandson), reworked it (since it ended about age 51), and produced a full edition integrating Franklin’s correspondence.

• The Life of Benjamin Franklin, Written by Himself — his three-volume edition based on the original manuscript and Franklin’s letters.

• The Life of Samuel J. Tilden (2 volumes, 1895) — biography and political history.

• Retrospections of an Active Life (3 volumes, 1909) — his memoirs, chronicling his life and public service.

• He also edited the speeches and writings of Tilden, biographies (e.g. of William Cullen Bryant), and contributed to historical scholarship.

• Earlier, he wrote Memoir of the Life and Public Services of John Charles Frémont (1856).

His wide correspondence, diaries, and papers are preserved in archives (e.g. the NYPL).

By bringing Franklin’s original manuscript to light and editing it, Bigelow made a lasting contribution to American letters and historiography.

Personal Life & Character

• In 1850, Bigelow married Jane Tunis Poultney. The marriage produced nine children, among them John Bigelow Jr. and Poultney Bigelow, both of whom became known in public life.

• Bigelow was known for bearing a reputation of integrity, strong moral character, earnestness, and dedication to public service.

• In his later years, he continued writing, lecturing, and advocating for cultural institutions and public causes.

John Bigelow died in New York City on December 19, 1911, aged 94.

His legacy lives on not just in his writings and diplomatic achievements, but in institutions like the New York Public Library and his influence on historical scholarship.

Legacy and Influence

John Bigelow’s impact is felt across several domains:

1. Historical scholarship & editorial achievement: His recovery and editing of Franklin’s original manuscript marked a turning point in American historical editing and biography.

2. Diplomacy & public service: His role in keeping France from aiding the Confederacy exemplified the importance of skilled diplomacy in preserving national interests.

3. Cultural institution building: As first president of the NYPL and advocate for libraries and public access to knowledge, he helped shape American public culture.

4. Political reform and civic engagement: His early commitment to reform, prison conditions, and anti-corruption efforts contributed to improvements in governance and oversight.

5. Model of the “public intellectual.” Bigelow bridged journalism, diplomacy, writing, and institution-building — showing how literary and civic life can combine.

The many papers, diaries, and archival records he left behind continue to be a resource for historians of the 19th century.

Today, one sees his name memorialized in John Bigelow Plaza in Manhattan (in front of the New York Public Library) and in the institutional memory of libraries and archival systems.