George Henry Boker

Boker was brought up in an atmosphere of ease and refinement, receiving his preparatory education in private schools, and entering Princeton University in 1840.[2] His marriage to Julia Riggs, of Maryland, followed shortly after, while he was studying law, a profession which was to serve him in good stead during his diplomatic years, but which he gave up for the stronger pull of poetry.But Boker was not wholly wed to theatrical demands; he still approached the stage in the spirit of the poet who was torn between loyalty to poetic indirectness, and necessity for direct dialogue."[3] The American Civil War not only turned Boker's pen to the Union Cause, but changed him politically from a Democrat to a staunch Republican.In 1862, the Union League Club was founded, with Boker as the leading spirit; through his efforts the war earnestness of the city was concentrated here; from 1863 to 1871 he served as its secretary; from 1879 to 1884 as its president.President Ulysses S. Grant sent Boker to Constantinople, as U.S. Minister (his appointment dated November 3, 1871)—an honor undoubtedly bestowed in recognition of his national service.Boker's initial enthusiasm for Turkish scenery and culture was unbounded, but after a time, his ignorance of the tongue, and distrust of interpreters, contributed to his frustration.[5] His home in Philadelphia—one of the literary centres of the time,—bore traces of his Turkish stay—carpets brought from Constantinople, Arabic designs on the draperies, and rich Eastern colours in the tapestried chairs.
Boker in his later years by Frederick Gutekunst
George Henry Boker tombstone in Laurel Hill Cemetery , Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaLaurel Hill CemeteryPhiladelphiaGirard National BankMechanics National BankPrinceton UniversityCharles Godfrey LelandForrestShakespeareWordsworthColeridgeShelleyMarylandBayard TaylorRichard Henry StoddardSamuel PhelpsSadler's WellsFrancesca da RiminiDante's InfernoAmerican Civil WarUnion League ClubUlysses S. GrantConstantinopleU.S. Minister1876 American electionAlexander II of RussiaFrederick GutekunstLawrence BarrettAmerican Philosophical SocietysonnetsHenry Wadsworth LongfellowProject GutenbergLibriVoxInternet ArchiveWayne MacVeaghUnited States Ambassador to the Ottoman EmpireHorace MaynardMarshall JewellUnited States Ambassador to RussiaEdwin W. StoughtonUnited States ambassadors to TurkeyOttoman EmpireErvingPorterWilliamsMorrisMacVeaghMaynardLongstreetWallaceStrausHirschThompsonTerrellAngellLeishmanRockhillMorgenthauRepublic of TurkeySherrillSkinnerMacMurraySteinhardtWadsworthMcGheeA WarrenMacomberSpiersStrausz-HupéAbramowitzBarkleyGrossmanPearsonEdelmanWilsonJeffreyRicciardoneSatterfieldUnited States ambassadors to RussiaRussian EmpirePinkneyCampbellMiddletonRandolphBuchananWilkinsJ. ClayDallasCambrelengIngersollSeymourPickensAppletonC. ClayCameronCurtinJewellStoughtonFosterLothropC. SmithBreckinridgeHitchcockMcCormickRiddleFrancisSoviet UnionBullittDaviesStandleyHarrimanW. SmithKennanBohlenKohlerStoesselWatsonHartmanMatlockStraussRussian FederationPickeringCollinsVershbowBeyrleMcFaulHuntsmanSullivan