Text: James B. Reece, “Propser M. Wetmore,” Poe's Poe and the New York Literati Story, dissertation, 1954 (This material is protected by copyright)

[page 330, continued:]

Prosper Montgomery Wetmore (1798-1876) was born in Stratford, Connecticut. His father died soon after the family moved to New York, and, when he was about nine years of age, young Wetmore was put to work in a counting house. During much of his adult life he was a merchant, having become a partner with his brother in a dry-goods business.

His activity as an author was confined chiefly to the 1820's, when he wrote for magazines and annuals; in 1830 he published his only collection of verse, Lexington, with Other Fugitive Poems. In 1839 he wrote a memoir for a collection of poems by James Nack, a deaf and dumb poet of New York.

In the state militia, which he joined in 1819, he advanced in rank until he was made paymaster general for the state of New York. General Wetmore, as he was frequently called, was a member of the state legislature (1834-1835) sad took an active part in civic affairs. He was a regent of the University of the City of New York, a director of an institution for the deaf and dumb, an officer of the New York Chamber of Commerce and of the Historical Society, and president of the American Art Union. For four years (1845-1849) he was a purchasing agent for the Navy. After the Civil War he dropped from public notice and spent his last years in poverty at Great Neck, Long Island.(1) [page 331:]

Wetmore's only volume of poetry appeared before Poe began to write criticism, and Poe found occasion to write of Wetmore only in the “Autography” and the “Literati” series. Neither article indicates that Poe thought highly of the poetical abilities of his subject. In Wetmore's handwriting Poe saw indications of “a love of the beautiful with an undue straining for effect — qualities which are distinctly traceable in his poetic efforts.” No man who writes like Wetmore, continued Poe, “will be noted for finish of style. Mr. Wetmore is sometimes very slovenly in his best compositions.”(2) In the “Literati” sketch Poe offered a brief, factual account of Wetmore's literary activities and an extended tribute to his personality. Criticism is limited to the description of Wetmore's book as a work of “considerable merit.”(3)

No personal acquaintance between Poe and Wetmore is known.

[[Footnotes]]

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