George Templeton Strong
1820–1875 (age 55)
Diarist, Lawyer
Biography
George Templeton Strong was a distinguished diarist and lawyer whose detailed personal journals provide an invaluable historical record of nineteenth-century American life, particularly the Civil War era and the social history of New York City. His meticulously maintained diaries, spanning decades, offer intimate insights into the thoughts, experiences, and observations of an educated, cultured American during a transformative period in the nation's history.
Beyond his significance as a diarist, Strong was an accomplished lawyer and civic leader whose involvement in New York's cultural and philanthropic institutions reflected his commitment to social progress and intellectual advancement. His legal career and his active participation in the city's civic affairs complemented his literary legacy, establishing him as a multifaceted figure whose contributions to both law and historical documentation remain valuable to scholars and historians.