William Cowper Prime
Encyclopedia
William Cowper Prime was an American
journalist, art historian, numismatist, and travel writer, younger brother of S. I. Prime
and E. D. G. Prime
, born at Cambridge, New York
. William Prime graduated Princeton
in 1843 and delivered a poem at commencement. He was admitted to the New York Bar
in 1846 and began to practice law in New York City. In 1851 he married Mary Trumbull of Stonington, Connecticut
(Dictionary of Art Historians). During 1855 and 1856, Prime traveled in Europe, North Africa, and the Holy Land. He published Boat Life in Egypt and Nubia and Tent Life in the Holy Land based on his experiences there, which include his accounts of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
, the Dead Sea, and the port of Jaffa
, among others. In The Innocents Abroad, Mark Twain
parodies Tent Life in the Holy Land as Grime's Nomadic Life in Palestine, taking aim at Prime's overly sentimental prose and his violent encounters with the local inhabitants. Twain makes the contemporary popularity of Tent Life evident in his parody: "Some of us will be shot before we finish this pilgrimage. The pilgrims read ‘Nomadic Life’ and keep themselves in a constant state of Quixotic heroism." Twain speculates that if a homicide did occur, Grimes should be prosecuted as an "accessory before the fact." Prime continued practicing law until 1861, when he became part owner and editor-in-chief of the New York Journal of Commerce
. In 1869 he gave up his editorial work and revisited Egypt and the Holy Land. It was at his insistence that Princeton established a department of art history, to which he donated his extensive collection of ceramic art. In 1884, the Trustees of the College elected Prime as the department's first chair. His interest in art matters brought him into close connection with the Metropolitan Museum of Art
in New York, of which he was elected first vice-president in 1874. His published writings include:
Prime provided an introduction to the English-language version of Théophile Gautier
's Romance of the Mummy (1863).
In 1886, as literary executor of General George B. McClellan
, Prime edited "McClellan's Own Story," which included a biographical sketch written by Prime.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist, art historian, numismatist, and travel writer, younger brother of S. I. Prime
Samuel I. Prime
Samuel Irenæus Prime was an American clergyman, traveler, and writer. He was born at Ballston, N. Y., and graduated from Williams College in 1829. Three years later he entered Princeton Theological Seminary, was licensed to preach in 1833, and in 1835 was installed pastor of the Presbyterian...
and E. D. G. Prime
Edward Dorr Griffin Prime
Edward Dorr Griffin Prime was an American clergyman and journalist. He was born at Cambridge, N. Y., and graduated from Union College in 1832. He graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1838 and had pastorates at Scotchtown, N. Y. and New York City. In 1853 he became substitute editor of...
, born at Cambridge, New York
Cambridge, New York
Cambridge, New York, may refer to either:* Cambridge , New York, the Town of Cambridge located in Washington County, New York* Cambridge , New York, the Village of Cambridge located within the Town of Cambridge, New York....
. William Prime graduated Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1843 and delivered a poem at commencement. He was admitted to the New York Bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1846 and began to practice law in New York City. In 1851 he married Mary Trumbull of Stonington, Connecticut
Stonington, Connecticut
The Town of Stonington is located in New London County, Connecticut, in the state's southeastern corner. It includes the borough of Stonington, the villages of Pawcatuck, Lords Point, Wequetequock, the eastern halves of the villages of Mystic and Old Mystic...
(Dictionary of Art Historians). During 1855 and 1856, Prime traveled in Europe, North Africa, and the Holy Land. He published Boat Life in Egypt and Nubia and Tent Life in the Holy Land based on his experiences there, which include his accounts of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also called the Church of the Resurrection by Eastern Christians, is a church within the walled Old City of Jerusalem. It is a few steps away from the Muristan....
, the Dead Sea, and the port of Jaffa
Jaffa
Jaffa is an ancient port city believed to be one of the oldest in the world. Jaffa was incorporated with Tel Aviv creating the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Jaffa is famous for its association with the biblical story of the prophet Jonah.-Etymology:...
, among others. In The Innocents Abroad, Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
parodies Tent Life in the Holy Land as Grime's Nomadic Life in Palestine, taking aim at Prime's overly sentimental prose and his violent encounters with the local inhabitants. Twain makes the contemporary popularity of Tent Life evident in his parody: "Some of us will be shot before we finish this pilgrimage. The pilgrims read ‘Nomadic Life’ and keep themselves in a constant state of Quixotic heroism." Twain speculates that if a homicide did occur, Grimes should be prosecuted as an "accessory before the fact." Prime continued practicing law until 1861, when he became part owner and editor-in-chief of the New York Journal of Commerce
The Journal of Commerce
The Journal of Commerce is a weekly magazine published in the United States that focuses on trade topics. First published in 1827, the Journal has a circulation of approximately 15,000...
. In 1869 he gave up his editorial work and revisited Egypt and the Holy Land. It was at his insistence that Princeton established a department of art history, to which he donated his extensive collection of ceramic art. In 1884, the Trustees of the College elected Prime as the department's first chair. His interest in art matters brought him into close connection with the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
in New York, of which he was elected first vice-president in 1874. His published writings include:
- The Owl-Creek Letters and Other Correspondences (1848)
- The Old House by the River (1853)
- Later Years (1854)
- Boat Life in Egypt and Nubia (1857)
- Tent Life in the Holy Land (1857)
- Coins, Medals, and Seals, Ancient and Modern (1861)
- O Mother dear, Jerusalem: The Old Hymn, its Origin and Genealogy (1865)
- I Go A Fishing (1873)
- Holy Cross: A History of the Invention, Preservation, and Disappearance of the Wood Known as the True Cross (1877)
- Pottery and Porcelain of all Times and Nations (1878)
Prime provided an introduction to the English-language version of Théophile Gautier
Théophile Gautier
Pierre Jules Théophile Gautier was a French poet, dramatist, novelist, journalist, art critic and literary critic....
's Romance of the Mummy (1863).
In 1886, as literary executor of General George B. McClellan
George B. McClellan
George Brinton McClellan was a major general during the American Civil War. He organized the famous Army of the Potomac and served briefly as the general-in-chief of the Union Army. Early in the war, McClellan played an important role in raising a well-trained and organized army for the Union...
, Prime edited "McClellan's Own Story," which included a biographical sketch written by Prime.
External links
- Tent life in the Holy Land. By William C. Prime, New York: Harper & brothers, 1857. The full text online, University of Michigan Library.
- Dictionary of Art Historians, Prime, William Cowper