Bayard Taylor (1825-1878) was an American journalist, traveller, and novelist. While engaged as an apprentice in a country printing office he learned Latin and French. He began to write verses for periodicals at the age of seventeen. As a newspaper correspondent he visited Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and France, and upon his return, in 1846,published his first book of travels. In 1847 he became connected with the New York Tribune, and made numerous journeys to different parts of the world as correspondent of that newspaper. He wrote many travel books and novels, and several volumes of poems. In 1862 he was appointed secretary of the American legation at St. Petersburg. In 1878 he was sent as United States ambassador to Germany, but died not long after reaching Berlin. The author knew Bayard Taylor, and also had assistance and cooperation from his parents, sister, and cousin.