Marquis James
- Born:
- August 29, 1891, Enid, Oklahoma Territory
- Died:
- November 19, 1955, Rye, New York
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Biographer, Historian, Journalist
Early Life and Education
- Attended Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma.
- Worked as a reporter and editor for various newspapers early in his career.
- Served in the United States Army during World War I, an experience that influenced his later writing.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began writing biographies in the 1920s, focusing on prominent American figures.
- Won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography twice: first in 1930 for The Raven: A Biography of Sam Houston, and again in 1938 for Andrew Jackson: Portrait of a President.
- His biographical work was noted for its detailed research and engaging narrative style.
- Contributed articles to various magazines and journals.
Notable Works
- The Raven: A Biography of Sam Houston (1929) - Examines the life of the Texan statesman.
- Andrew Jackson: The Border Captain (1933)
- Andrew Jackson: Portrait of a President (1937)
- The Life of General Marion (1938)
- Mr. Garner of Texas (1939) (co-authored with Bascom N. Timmons)
- Alfred I. duPont: The Family Rebel (1941)
- The Cherokee Strip: A Tale of an Oklahoma Boyhood (1945)
Legacy and Impact
Marquis James is remembered as a distinguished American biographer and historian. His meticulously researched and well-written biographies, particularly The Raven by Marquis James and his Andrew Jackson series, contributed significantly to the understanding of key figures in American history. His work continues to be consulted by scholars and readers interested in American biography and the early American republic.