John William De Forest, an American author, born in Derby, Conn., March 31, 1826. At the age of 20 he made a voyage to the Levant, where he remained nearly two years, residing chiefly in Syria. On his return he compiled a "History of the Indians of Connecticut" (Hartford, 1850). In 1850 he went to Europe, where he remained four years, travelling in England, France, Italy, and Germany. Returning to America, he published "Oriental Acquaintance" (1857), and "European Acquaintance" (1858). In 1859 he produced "Seacliff," his first novel, and from that time to the breaking out of the civil war wrote short stories for periodicals. In 1861 he recruited a company for the 12th Connecticut volunteers, was made captain, and served in the field till January, 1865, participating in the campaigns in the southwestern states under Weitzel and Banks, and in the Shenandoah valley under Sheridan. From 1865 to 1868 he held various official positions in the bureau of the veteran reserve corps and the freedman's bureau. Besides essays, stories, and poems, he has published the following novels, all of them appearing first in serial form: "Miss Ravenel's Conversion from Secession to Loyalty "(New York, 1867); "Overland" (1871); "Kate Beaumont" (1872); and "The Wetherel Affair" (1873).