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Last edited by Drini
March 18, 2025 | History
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Horatio Alger, Jr.

Horatio Alger, Jr. was a prolific 19th-century American author, most famous for his novels following the adventures of bootblacks, newsboys, peddlers, buskers, and other impoverished children in their rise from humble backgrounds to lives of respectable middle-class security and comfort. His novels were hugely popular in their day.

Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, the son of a Unitarian minister, Alger entered Harvard University at the age of 16. Following graduation, he briefly worked in education before touring Europe for almost a year. He then entered the Harvard Divinity School, and, in 1864, took a position at a Unitarian church in Brewster, Massachusetts. Two years later, he resigned following allegations he'd molested two teenage boys. He subsequently retired from the ministry entirely and moved to New York City where he formed an association with the Newsboys Lodging House and other agencies offering aid to impoverished children. His sympathy for the working boys of the city, coupled with the moral values learned at home, were the basis of his many juvenile "rags to riches" novels. He died in 1899.1

Photo of Horatio Alger, Jr.

American novelist (1832–1899)

Born 13 January 1832
Died 18 July 1899

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  • Cover of: Ragged Dick, or, Street life in New York with the boot-blacks
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    Cover of edition raggeddickorstre00alge Cover of edition raggeddickorstr00algegoog Cover of edition raggeddickorstre0000hora Cover of edition raggeddickorstre0000alge_h6n9 Cover of edition raggeddicktownse00hora Cover of edition isbn_9781604598568 Cover of edition raggeddick0000alge Cover of edition raggeddickorstre0000alge_c1o1 Cover of edition raggeddick00hora First published in 1868 — 201 editions
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  • Cover of: Fame and fortune: or, the progress of Richard Hunter
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    Cover of edition famefortuneorpro68alge Cover of edition fameandfortuneo00algegoog First published in 1868 — 95 editions
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  • Cover of: The young outlaw
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    Cover of edition youngoutlaworadralge Cover of edition youngoutlaworadr0alge Cover of edition youngoutlaworadr00alge Cover of edition theyoungoutlaw00algerich Cover of edition youngoutlaworadr1875alge First published in 1875 — 39 editions
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  • Cover of: The Erie train boy: illustrated
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    Cover of edition erietrainboy00alge Cover of edition erietrainboy1891alge Cover of edition erietrainboy00algegoog First published in 1890 — 26 editions
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  • Cover of: Mark, the match boy: or, Richard Hunter's ward
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    First published in 1869 — 19 editions
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  • Cover of: Paul the Peddler: The Fortunes of a Young Street Merchant
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    Cover of edition paulpeddlerorfor00algeiala Cover of edition paulpeddleroradv00alge First published in 1871 — 18 editions
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  • Cover of: The Cash Boy

    First published in 1900 — 15 editions
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  • Cover of: Bound To Rise

    First published in 1873 — 15 editions
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  • Cover of: store boy: or, The fortunes of Ben Barclay.
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    First published in 1890 — 15 editions
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  • Cover of: Try and Trust

    First published in 1800 — 13 editions
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  • Cover of: Adrift in New York; or, Tom and Florence braving the world
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  • Cover of: Brave And Bold

    First published in 1900 — 13 editions
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  • Cover of: Paul Prescott's charge: a story for boys
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    Cover of edition paulprescottscha00alge_337 First published in 1996 — 13 editions
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  • Cover of: Struggling upward: or, Luke Larkin's luck
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    Cover of edition strugglingupwardx00alge Cover of edition strugglingupward00alge_0 Cover of edition strugglingupwar000alge First published in 1890 — 13 editions
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  • Cover of: Driven from home: or, Carl Crawford's experience
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    Cover of edition drivenfromhomeoralge First published in 1906 — 13 editions
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  • Cover of: Making his way: or, Frank Courtney's struggle upward.
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    Cover of edition makinghiswayorfr0000alge First published in 1800 — 12 editions
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  • Cover of: Phil, the fiddler: or, The story of a young street musician
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    Cover of edition philfiddlerorsto00algeiala First published in 1872 — 12 editions
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  • Cover of: Only an Irish Boy

    First published in 1911 — 11 editions
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  • Cover of: Timothy Crump's Ward: The New Years Loan and What Became of It
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    First published in 1866 — 11 editions
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  • Cover of: Risen from the ranks: or, Harry Walton's success.
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    First published in 1874 — 11 editions
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Photo of Horatio Alger, Jr.

American novelist (1832–1899)

Born 13 January 1832
Died 18 July 1899

Subjects

Fiction, Conduct of life, History, Juvenile fiction, Inheritance and succession, Orphans, Boys, Fiction, historical, general, Adventure and adventurers, Friendship, Swindlers and swindling, Fiction, general, Success, Diligence, Conduct of life in fiction, Poverty, Children's fiction, Youth, Gold mines and mining, Juvenile literature, Young men, Kidnapping, Criminals, Identity, Specimens

Places

New York (N.Y.), New York (State), California, United States, New York, West (U.S.), New England, Australia, Chicago (Ill.), Colorado, Boston (Mass.), Chicago, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Cincinnati (Ohio), East (U.S.), Illinois, India, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, New Jersey, Philadelphia (Pa.)

People

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), Horatio Alger (1832-1899), James A. Garfield (1831-1881), Daniel Webster (1782-1852), Horatio Alger Jr. (1832-1899)

Time

19th century, 1865-1898, 1775-1865, 1865-, Civil War, 1861-1865, 1846-1850, 1860-1890, 1890-1945, Late 19th century

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Alternative names

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History

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March 18, 2025 Edited by Drini merge authors
March 18, 2025 Edited by Drini merge authors
March 18, 2025 Edited by Drini merge authors
March 18, 2025 Edited by Drini merge authors
April 1, 2008 Created by an anonymous user initial import
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