Isaac Weld facts for kids
Isaac Weld (1774–1856) was an Irish writer, explorer, and artist. He was known for writing about different places and drawing pictures of them. He was also a member of the Royal Dublin Society.
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Early Life and Family
Isaac Weld was born in Dublin, Ireland, on March 15, 1774. He was named after his great-grandfather, who was a close friend of the famous scientist Isaac Newton. Both his grandfather and father were also named Isaac.
His father was a good friend of Charles James Fox, a well-known British politician. Isaac's sister married George Ensor, and his half-brother, Charles Richard Weld, also became a traveler and writer.
Isaac went to school in Dublin and later to private schools in England. He finished his studies in 1793. In 1802, he married Alexandra Hope in Edinburgh. They had a daughter named Esther, born in 1804. Later in his life, Isaac Weld spent a lot of time in Italy, especially in Rome, where he became friends with the famous sculptor Antonio Canova.
Adventures in America and Canada
In 1795, Isaac Weld sailed from Dublin to Philadelphia in the United States. He spent two years exploring the United States and Canada. He visited famous places like Monticello and Mount Vernon, and he even met important figures like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
He traveled partly for adventure and partly to see if these countries would be good places for Irish people to move to. He wrote that "any part of those territories might be looked forward to as an eligible and agreeable place of abode." He traveled by horseback, coach, and even by canoe with local guides in Canada.
When he returned in 1797, he felt he didn't need to visit America again. He thought Americans were too focused on money and preferred Canada. His book, Travels, published in 1799, became very popular. It was printed three times and translated into French, German, Italian, and Dutch.
Isaac Weld's Thoughts on America
In his book, Isaac Weld shared his thoughts on the places he visited. He believed that slavery would eventually end in the United States, as people would always seek freedom.
He also wrote about Washington, D.C., saying, "If the affairs of the United States go on as rapidly as they have done, it will become the grand emporium of the West, and rival in magnitude and splendour the cities of the whole world." This shows he thought Washington D.C. would become a very important and grand city.
Life in Ireland
Isaac Weld also explored his home country, Ireland. He visited Killarney and even navigated its lakes in a special boat he made from pressed brown paper! He published a book called Scenery of Killarney in 1807, which included his own drawings. He was also well-known for his drawings of American life, especially his famous pictures of Niagara Falls.
In May 1815, he made history by sailing from Dún Laoghaire to London on the steamboat Thames. This was the first time such a vessel made that journey. He also put together the Statistical Survey of the County of Roscommon in 1838 for the Royal Dublin Society, where he served as Honorary Secretary and Vice-President.
Isaac Weld passed away at his home near Bray, County Wicklow, on August 4, 1856. He is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery in Dublin.
The Weld Family Connection
Isaac Weld was part of the larger Weld family, which has roots in New England, America. His ancestor, Thomas Weld, was a Puritan minister from England. He was one of three brothers who moved to Massachusetts in 1632.
Isaac Weld's great-great-grandfather, Thomas Weld, helped publish the Bay Psalm Book. This was the very first book ever printed in America! Later, he returned to England. Isaac's great-grandfather, Nathaniel, went to Harvard University. He left Massachusetts for Ireland in 1655 to be a chaplain with Oliver Cromwell and later moved to Dublin.
The Weld family members who stayed in America became very wealthy and influential. Famous people from this branch of the family include William Weld, who was a Governor of Massachusetts, and Theodore Dwight Weld, a well-known American abolitionist.
Books by Isaac Weld
- Weld's Travels
- Travels Through the States of North America and the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada During the Years 1795, 1796 and 1797
- Statistical Survey of the County of Roscommon, created for the Dublin Society
- Scenery of Killarney (1807)
- Ravenswell Bray Co. Dublin, The Seat of Isaac Weld Esq. Sketches by Isaac Weld A.D. 1817
