Author: Humphreys, David
Biography:
HUMPHREYS, David (1752-1818: ANBO)
Poet, soldier, diplomat, and businessman, he was the son of a Congregational minister in Derby CT, Daniel Humphrey (or Humphreys), and his wife Sarah Bowers. At Yale he founded a literary society and met the three men who came to be known, with him, as "the Connecticut wits": Joel Barlow, Timothy Dwight, and John Trumbull (qq.v.). After graduating in 1771, he spent a few years as a tutor or schoolmaster before joining the Continental Army as an officer in 1776. He served as aide-de-camp to Washington 1780-83, and then as his adviser and secretary 1787-90. Through Washington, he had a successful career as a diplomat after the War, first in a trade mission to Europe and ultimately as America's minister plenipotentiary to the Spanish court in Madrid, 1796-1802. In 1797 he married Ann Frances Bulkeley, whom Appleton describes as "an English lady of fortune"; they had no children. On their return from Spain with a gift from the court of 100 merino sheep, Humphreys began a woollen manufactory in Rimmon Falls CT--renamed Humphreysville in 1804, but now known as Seymour. Besides satirical and patriotic verse, he wrote for the theatre and published a biography of Major-General Israel Putnam. General Humphreys is buried in New Haven CT. (ANBO 4 May 2019; Appleton) HJ
Other Names:
- Col. Humphreys
- Colonel Humphreys
- D. Humphries
- David Humphries
- Humphreys