Furman, Gabriel, 1800-1854

Gabriel Furman (January 23, 1800-November 11, 1854) was a respected historian of early Brooklyn. Among his works were the Notes Geographical and Historical, Relating to the Town of Brooklyn, on Long-Island (1824), still available in a recent reprint. Little is known of Furman's youth; he attended Columbia Academy in Bergen (now part of Jersey City), New Jersey, from 1814-1816. Professionally, Furman became a lawyer, having studied law beginning in 1823 in the office of Elisha W. King of Beekman St., New York. Furman was later a justice of the Brooklyn municipal court, a member of the New York State Senate (1839-1842), and an unsuccessful Whig candidate for lieutenant governor. For further biographical information, see Brooklyn Historical Society's guide to its collection of original Furman journals and commonplace books; the guide is available on-line and the call number for the collection itself is ARC.190.

From the guide to the Typescripts of Gabriel Furman's notes on Brooklyn, N.Y., 1821-1823, circa 1920 typescripts of 1821-1823 journal, (Brooklyn Historical Society)

Lawyer and historian, New York City.

From the description of The customs, amusements, style of living, and manners of the people of the United States from the first settlement of the country to the present time : manuscript, [ca. 1844]. (New York University, Group Batchload). WorldCat record id: 58664390

Lawyer in Brooklyn, N.Y.

From the description of Long Island antiquities, 1824-1838. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 155547652

Gabriel Furman was a Brooklyn-born lawyer and politician. He served as state senator and was nominated as lieutenant governor, but gradually withdrew from public life to pursue researches into eclectic subjects, especially literature. Although a remarkably intelligent person and meticulous researcher, Furman published only a single volume in his lifetime; however, his exacting research survives in many manuscript volumes, edifying and astounding present-day historians.

From the description of A sketch of the history of theatres in the United States, ca. 1828. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 50399020

Gabriel Furman (1800-1854) was a Brooklyn lawyer, justice, and state senator, as well as an antiquarian, collector, and lecturer. He published "Notes, Geographical and Historical Relative to the Town of Brooklyn" in 1824, and was a lifelong compiler of research, manuscripts, and documents, many of which were edited for publication after his death as Antiquities of Long Island (1875).

From the description of Memoranda on American superstitions, undated. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 666786719

Lawyer, politician, writer.

From the description of Papers, 1778-1862. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 155449714

Gabriel Furman (January 23, 1800-November 11, 1854) was -- and remains -- a respected historian of early Brooklyn. His Notes Geographical and Historical, Relating to the Town of Brooklyn, on Long-Island (1824) is available today in a recent reprint as well as on line. His Antiquities of Long Island and his edition of Daniel Denton's A Brief Description Of New York, Formerly Called New Netherlands, With The Places Thereunto Adjoining have also been recently reprinted.

Little is known of Furman's youth; he attended Columbia Academy in Bergen (now part of Jersey City), New Jersey, from 1814-1816. Professionally, Furman became a lawyer, having studied law beginning in 1823 in the office of Elisha W. King of Beekman St., New York. Furman was later a justice of the Brooklyn municipal court, a member of the New York State Senate (1839-1842), and an unsuccessful Whig candidate for lieutenant governor.

Furman's notes, memoranda and journals add a little humanity to the dry facts of his life: He lived at 103 Willow Street, Brooklyn, and was particularly fond of his garden and the birds it attracted. He loved nature, especially trees, birds and nature walks, many of which he took in Hoboken and described in practically lyrical detail. He loved books and was an avid collector. He disliked Andrew Jackson, the "democratical" party, the Loco Focos, Tammany Hall, abolitionists, the troublesome lower classes and immigrants in general. He was strongly if conventionally religious, and in his journals frequently thanked the Almighty for His mercy or prayed for the Almighty to ameliorate some situation.

Furman's journals mention no romantic connections, memorable social events or close friends. In 1832, he developed an opium addiction, lost interest in his career, and began a descent into poverty. Although he remained active through much of the 1840s as a historian and lecturer, Furman was financially ruined by the late 1840s. He died in 1854 in the Brooklyn City hospital and was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery.

(Sources: A brief biographical note can be found on-line at http://famousamericans.net/gabrielfurman/. Biographical sketches from 1865 can be found on-line at http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1031&context=libraryscience. A fuller biographical essay can be found in the BHS library: Clark, Stephen. "Gabriel Furman: Brooklyn's First Historian" in The Journal of Long Island History, v. 10, n. 1 (Autumn 1973), pages 21-32.)

From the guide to the Gabriel Furman papers, Bulk, 1816-1854, 1725-1913, (Brooklyn Historical Society)