Henry Reed Stiles

History of Kings County Including Brooklyn from 1683 to 1883 Vol 1: the Civil, Political, Professional and Ecclesiastical History and Commercial ... with Portraits, Biographies and Illustrations Henry Reed Stiles

This is the authoritative work on the History of Brooklyn from the first discovery and the Colonial Period up until 1884 when this book was published. It is not to be confused at all with another work "History of Brooklyn" published in three volumes in 1867. The two books are completely different although both are by the same author. Henry Reed Stiles was a physician who wrote a number of highly regarded historical records and genealogical books during the late 18th and early 19th century. As a doctor, he served in various medical positions primarily in New York City. He was interested in genealogical and historical research. In May, 1863 Stiles was one of the founders of the Long Island Historical Society, and he became a director and its first librarian. He helped to organize the American Anthropological Society in 1869, and was one of the seven founders of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, serving as its president from 1869 until 1873. After his full retirement in 1901, he devoted all his time to completing and preparing for publication of The History of Ancient Wethersfield, Connecticut. Stiles was described upon his death as having "made it possible for thousands to trace their ancestry to the founders of our American Government and to honored names in the older governments of the world." Stiles wrote a number of books and also contributed numerous articles to magazines, newspapers, and genealogical publications.