3-074-682 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The late Captain Mayne Reid, 1883. Engraving from a photograph by Mr. R. Symons. 'Captain Mayne Reid, the Novelist...was born in the North of Ireland, and was educated for the Presbyterian Church of Ireland (of which his father was an honoured minister), but a spirit of adventure gave his thoughts a different direction. After two excursions up the Red River, trading and hunting with the Indians, and remaining on the Prairies for nearly five years, he travelled through the United States, and acquired a store of incidents and adventures that subsequently imparted a charm to his writings. At the outbreak of the Mexican War, he obtained a commission in the United States Army, was present at the capture of Vera Cruz, and led the forlorn hope at the assault of Chapultepec, where he was shot down and reported to be killed. Settling finally in England, Captain Reid devoted himself to literature, and produced many very popular works - among others "The Rifle Rangers," "The Scalp Hunters," "The Desert Home, or Family Robinson,"..."The White Chief," "Wild Huntress," "The Quadroon,"..."The Child Wife," "The White Squaw," and " The Mountain Marriage." Captain Mayne Reid leaves a widow, on whom a pension from the Royal Bounty might well be bestowed'. From "Illustrated London News", 1883.