William Perry Fogg facts for kids

William Perry Fogg in 1872

William Perry Fogg (born July 27, 1826 – died May 8, 1909) was an American adventurer and writer. He is famous for inspiring the character Phileas Fogg in the classic 1873 novel Around the World in 80 Days.

Who Was William Perry Fogg?

William Perry Fogg was born in Exeter, New Hampshire. When he was a child, his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. In Cleveland, he became an important member and leader of the New England Society. This group helped people who were descendants of early settlers from New England.

In 1852, William Fogg married Mary Ann Gould. They had two daughters named Annie and Helen. Fogg started a business selling chinaware in Cleveland. He also became interested in how the city was run. In 1866, he was chosen to be part of the Board of Commissioners, which helped manage the city. He even helped write a law about the city's police force.

Early Life and Adventures

William Fogg began his most famous adventures in 1868. He decided to travel all around the world! He was one of the first Americans to explore the inside of Japan. This was a very exciting and unusual thing to do at that time.

Traveling Around the World

'Scene on the quay at Alexandria on the arrival of a steamer' - Round the World Letters (1872)

Starting in 1870, a newspaper called The Cleveland Leader shared Fogg's exciting journeys. They printed the letters he sent home from his travels. These letters were later put together into a book in 1872. It was called Round the World: Letters from Japan, China, India and Egypt.

His Amazing Journey Details

In his book, Fogg described his incredible trip. He traveled by train from Cleveland all the way to San Francisco. On the way, he stopped in Salt Lake City and met Brigham Young, a famous leader. From San Francisco, he took a large ship across the Pacific Ocean to Japan.

After Japan, he visited many other places. These included China (and Hong Kong), Singapore, Malacca, and Penang. Then he traveled to India. From the city of Bombay, he went to Suez and sailed through the Suez Canal. This canal is a famous waterway that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. Finally, he reached Cairo, Egypt, where he saw the ancient Pyramids.

More Adventures and Books

'Group of Japanese Officers' - Round the World Letters (1872)

William Fogg wrote another book called Arabistan, or The Land of the Arabian Nights. This book, published in England in 1872, told about his travels through Egypt, Arabia, and Persia (modern-day Iran) to the city of Baghdad. His last book was an updated American version of Land of the Arabian Nights.

After his travels, Fogg returned to the United States. He lived in Roselle, New Jersey from 1901 to 1908. For the last year of his life, he lived in Morris Plains. William Perry Fogg passed away on May 8, 1909. His adventures continue to inspire readers, especially those who love the story of Phileas Fogg.