Charles Lanman

Charles Lanman (June 14, 1819 - March 4, 1895) was an American author, government official, artist, librarian, and explorer. Biography Charles Lanman was born in Monroe, Michigan, on June 14, 1819, the son of Charles James Lanman, and the grandson of United States Senator James Lanman. Lanman's early life included newspaper work as editor of the Monroe Gazette in 1845, associate editor of the Cincinnati Chronicle in 1846, and member of the editorial staff of the New York Express in 1847. He spent ten years, from 1835 to 1845, studying with Hudson River School artists in New York City, where he met many artists, including Washington Irving. Lanman studied art under Asher B. Durand and at 28 became an elected associate of the National Academy of Design in 1846. Lanman's career included service as librarian for the U.S. War Department (1849-1850), private secretary to Senator Daniel Webster (1850-1853), librarian and the head of the returns office in the U.S. Interior Department (1853 and 1855-1857), and librarian for the U.S. House of Representatives (1861-1865). He was also the librarian for the City of Washington Library, the American secretary to the Japanese legation, and assistant assessor for the District of Columbia.