DUNTON, John, author, born in Graffham, Huntingdonshire, England, 14 May 1659; died in New England in 1733. He was apprenticed to a bookseller in London, and immigrated to New England in March 1686, with a, cargo of books. This venture was unsuccessful, and he only remained eight months in the colony. But he returned subsequently, established himself in the bookselling business, and, after twenty years devoted to this pursuit, turned his attention to authorship. In 1701 he was employed in the office of the " Post Angel" newspaper. Later he began the publication of the" Athenian Mercury," republished under the name of the "Athenian Oracle " (4 vols.). In 1705 appeared the "Life and Errors of John' Dunton," by himself, in which is to be found the "lives and characters of more than 1,000 contemporary characters of literary eminence," and a description of many of the ministers, booksellers, and other citizens of Boston and Salem. His " Letters from New England" were published by the Prince society (1867).