Irving, Washington. The Alhambra, between 1829 and 1832 | Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Washington Irving (1783-1859), a native of New York City, published his first essays before being admitted to the bar in 1806. He continued practicing law until 1812, when he began focusing primarily on his writing, and from 1815-1817 he unsuccessfully attempted to save his family's Liverpool firm from financial ruin. He remained in Europe until 1832, living in England, Germany, and Spain and continuing to write and publish essays and fiction.

Irving began The Alhambra: A Series of Tales and Sketches of the Moors and Spaniards while living in Spain in 1829. Upon his return to the United States, he lived and worked in New York City, excepting a posting as minister to Spain from 1842-1846. He is known today as one of the first financially successful writers from the United States and a progenitor of U.S. literature.

Source

Hedges, William L. "Irving, Washington." American National Biography Online. Oxford University Press, 2000. doi: 16-00829