1853 "Life of Harman Blennerhassett" and the Burr Conspiracy
Item Details
An 1853 hardcover edition of The Life of Harman Blennerhassett by William H. Safford, published by Moore, Anderson, Wilstach and Keys of Cincinnati. Subtitled ‘An Authentic Narrative of the Burr Expedition’, it contains not only a biography of the Anglo-Irish lawyer Harman Blennerhassett (1765-1831), but also an account of the ‘Burr Conspiracy’ in which he was involved.
Blennerhassett, born in Ireland, became involved with the Irish independence group Society of United Irishmen, an also married his niece Margaret Agnew. Fearing scandal should either fact be discovered, he emigrated to Virginia in 1796 and purchased an island in the Ohio River, Blennerhassett Island. There he built a luxurious European style estate which became famous as the most extravagant home in the West. Among the visitors to the island was former Vice President Aaron Burr, who used it as a headquarters in planning a military expedition to the West. The aims of the expedition have become confused by the contradicting claims of Burr’s political rivals and supporters in the wake of his treason trial and ultimate acquittal. Burr claimed that he only wanted to settle a tract of land leased from Spain, while other accused him of trying to foment an armed rebellion and carve out his own nation, either from Spanish Mexico or the recently purchased Louisiana Territory.
Blennerhassett became embroiled in the expedition and subsequent scandal, his island estate was raided by the Virginia militia, and Blennerhassett was twice arrested, before his eventual release following Burr’s acquittal. The book provides a narrative of the planning for the expedition and its eventual downfall, through the perspective of Blennerhassett, and provides a fascinating account of one of the largest political scandals of early American history.
Condition
- cover wear and paper discoloration (including some spotting) consistent with age, but overall quite good.
Dimensions
Item #
15CIN457-108
Additional Information
Harman Blennerhassett at Wikipedia, Burr Conspiracy at Wikipedia
