S. F. B. MORSE.
PROF. S. F. B. MORSE.
Born April 27, 1791, at Charleston, Mass. His father, the Rev. Jedediah Morse, author of the well-known book entitled “American Geography” and compiler of the “Universal Gazette.” His mother was Elizabeth Ann Breese.
At seven years of age young Morse entered the preparatory school at Andover, Mass., and at 14 the Freshman Class at Yale, graduating in 1810.
The faculty which first developed in him was the artistic. He provided himself with brush and paint and commenced taking on ivory the portraits of his more opulent companions. He found in painting an inspiration, and selected it as his chosen profession.
He placed himself under the tutelage of Washington Allston, one of America’s famous artists, who encouraged him in the choice he had made. He accompanied Allston to Europe in 1811, bearing introductions to some of England’s most distinguished men.
Benjamin West was then in the zenith of his fame. It was a proud day for Morse when he met West and was welcomed to his studio. A mutual attachment sprang up between them, and West became thereafter his friend and counsellor.
Meanwhile West’s friendship and the introductory letters he had brought with him introduced him to men of influence and reputation.
Some of their names are historic. It was something for a young man to meet such men as William Wilberforce and Henry Thornton, Zacharias MacCauley, father of the great historian, Lord Glenelg and many others, all of whom gave a warm and cordial welcome.
Mr. Morse’s instincts were refined and his companionships choice. He had for his room-mate in London the gifted Leslie, then, like himself, struggling for fame in a sublime art. For companions he had such men as Benjamin West, Copley, Allston, Coleridge, Rogers, Charles Lamb and others famous in art and literature.