WILLIS, Nathaniel Parker, poet, born in Portland, Maine, 20 January, 1806; died near Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, New York, 20 January, 1867. He came of a race of printers and publishers, his great-grandfather was a printer in Boston, his grandfather was the proprietor of the "Independent Chronicle," the "Potomac Guardian," and the "Sciota Gazette," which still exists in the town of that name, and his father, Nathaniel (1780-1870), established the "Eastern Argus" at Portland, Maine, in 1803, afterward projected and conducted in Boston (in 1816-'26) the " Recorder," one of the earliest religious papers in the world, and also founded in 1827 the " Youth's Companion," which is said to be the first children's paper that was ever published, and which is still issued. The son was graduated at Yale in 1827. During his course at college he wrote under the pen-name of "Roy," for his father's paper, a series of religious narrative poems that found many readers, and he also gained the prize of fifty dollars offered for the best poem by the editor of "The Album." After leaving college, Willis edited for Samuel G. Goodrich, of Boston, two illustrated annuals, "The Legendary" (1828) and "The Token " (1829). During the last-mentioned year he established "The American Monthly Magazine," which ran a two years' career, and became merged in the "New York Mirror." This weekly publication, devoted to art, literature, and society, established by Samuel Woodworth, was at this time conducted by George P. Morris. "Its most readable articles were extracts from English periodicals. The accession of such contributors as Theodore S. Fay and Mr. Willis, with other able writers, changed the character of this paper and made it the chief organ of society and literature. In 1831 both Fay and Willis departed for the Old World and became weekly correspondents for their journal. Willis travelled over the greater part of Europe and into Asia Minor. William C. Rives, then United States minister at the court of France, attached him formally to his legation, which gave the young poet great facilities for information and travel mid an entrance into distinguished society. In 1837 Mr. Willis married the daughter of General William Stace, commandant of the Woolwich arsenal, and in the same year returned to this country. They settled in a romantic home, which the poet named Glenmary, near Owego, New York, for several years dispensing open-handed hospitality. In 1839 the author made a brief visit to England in the interest of his private affairs, and in 1844, on the death of his wife, Willis again crossed the Atlantic for the purpose of recruiting his shattered health. In 1846 he married the adopted daughter of Joseph Grinnell, of New Bedford, and settled on a small estate which he called Idlewild, near Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, seen in the vignette. From 1823, until 1842, with brief interruptions, he had continued his connection with the "Mirror." A short breach occurred between him and Morris in 1839, when Willis united his interest with that of William T. Porter to publish "The Corsair," a short-lived weekly. The then unknown William M. Thackeray was one of its regular contributors. On the discontinuance of the "Mirror,"Morris and Willis issued the "New Mirror," but, having no success, their paper was changed in form and feature and became the successful "Home Journal," which still continues to prosper. Both editors conducted it until the time of their death. Although far from being handsome in person, Willis became known as a man of elegant manners who dressed in the extreme of fashion. His early career as a writer was one of remarkable success His scripture versions quickly became popular and they were quoted from the pulpit. "Absalom" and " The Leper" were especial favorites. Among his secular pieces, " The Belfry Pigeon," "Unseen Spirits," and " Parrhasius the Painter " were included in most anthologies. As a prose writer of ease and elegance, Willis was justly admired. He was an observing traveller and knew how to present his adventures in glowing colors. As a man of society he attracted and charmed the fashionable world To this day "Peneillings by the Way " can be read with pleasure, and his thoughtful " Letters from under a Bridge," written in the seclusion of Glenmary, continue to attract the attention of readers But the elegance of Willis's prose was occasionally marred by frivolous conceits and affected Gallicisms in writing for effect by overstated simple truths, and he made merchandise of facts and opinions that he gleaned in private intercourse These last transgressions eventually led to quarrels and personal encounters. Lockhart gave him a severe castigation in the " Quarterly Review," and, with Captain Marryat, then editor of the " Metropolitan Magazine," he fought a bloodless duel. The ephemeral character of most of Willis's books is indicated by their titles; some were evidently revised collections of old magazine articles. During his stay in England he contributed to "Black wood," the "New Monthly," and other periodicals. His early prose works, published in London attracted a wide circle of readers, but the author's ambitious poems, '" Melanie," " The Lady Jane," and "Lord Ivon's Daughter," were failures, as was also his novel, "Paul Fane." The two dramas, "Bianca Visconti " and "Tortesa, the Usurer." performed for several nights at the Park theatre, New York, strongly east and well mounted, were without dramatic vigor and failed to interest the public. Willis was a careful elaborator, who retouched his manuscripts so continuously that he frequently found it necessary to make a fresh copy for the printers. On various occasions Willis delivered poems at college commencements, and in 1844, at the New York Lyceum, an address on fashion which was attended by Cooper, Irving, and other authors and poets of the day. Many a struggling aspirant for literary fame received aid and advice from Willis, who, as Balleck said, "was one of the kindest of men." Thackeray asserted that "it is comfortable that there should have been a Willis." Of his writings it has been remarked: " The prose and poetry of Mr. Willis are alike distinguished for exquisite finish and melody. His language is pure, varied, and rich, his imagination brilliant, and his wit of the first quality. Many of his descriptions of natural scenery are written pictures, and no other American author has represented with equal vivacity and truth the manners of the age." His publications include "Scripture Sketches" (Boston, 1827); "Fugitive Poetry" (1829) ; " Poem delivered before the Society of the United Brethren " (New York, 18,31); "Melanie, and other Poems" (London, 18a5 ; New York, 1837) : "Pencillings by the Way" (London, 183a; New York, 18a6) ; "Inklings of Adventure" (1836) : "Bianca Visconti," a drama (18,39) : "Tortesa, the Usurer," a drama (1839) : "Loiterings of Travel" (New York, 1839)" Abri, or the Tent pitched" (1839:London, 1840); " Letters from under a Bridge" (London, 1840)" " Poems " (New York, 185.a); " Lady Jane, and other Poems" (1844) ; "Dashes at Life with Free Pencil" (1845); " Rural Letters" (1849); "Life Here and There " (1850) ; " People I have Met " (1850); "Hurrygraphs " (1851); "Fun Jottings" (1853) ; "A Summer Cruise in the Mediterranean" (1853); " A Health Trip to the Tropics" (1854) ; " Out Doors at Idlewild " (1854) ; "Famous Persons and Places" (1854) ; " The Rag-Bag" (1855); " Paul Fane," a novel (1857); "Poeros " (1858); and "The Convalescent" (1859). He also edited and compiled " Scenery of the United States and Canada" (London. 1840) ; "Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland" (1842) ; "A Life of Jenny Lind" (Philadelphia, 1851) ; and "Trenton Falls" (New York, 1851). His life has been written by Henry A. Beers in the "American Men of Letters" series (Boston, 1885), who has also issued " Selections" from his prose writings (New York, 1885). --his only son, BAILEY, was graduated at the Columbia college school of mines in 1878, and is now an assistant on the United States geological survey. --His brother, Richard Storrs, journalist, born in Boston, Massachusetts, 10 February, 1819, was graduated at Yale in 1841, and adopted literature as a profession. He has edited the "New York Musical World" and "Once a Week," contributed to current literature, and published "Church Chorals and Choir Studies" (New York, 1854) ; "Our Church Music; a Book for Pastors and People" (1855); and "Carols and Music Poems" (15 nos., 1860-'1). He contributed to "National Hymns" (1861) and to the American edition of the "Life of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy" (1865).