Journalist; born in
Boston, Aug. 30, 1768; graduated at Harvard in 1790; became a lawyer; but abandoned his profession for the pursuit of literature.
He contributed articles to various newspapers, while yet practising law, over the signature of “Farrago.”
In 1795 he became connected with a Boston weekly newspaper called
The tablet.
It survived only three months, when
Dennie became the editor of the
Farmer's weekly Museum, at
Walpole, N. H., which acquired an extensive circulation.
To it he contributed a series of attractive essays under the title of
The lay preacher.
These gave their author a high reputation and were extensively copied into the newspapers of the country.
He went to
Philadelphia in 1799, where he was confidential secretary to
Timothy Pickering, then
Secretary of State.
In that place he remained for a few months, and after editing for a short time the
United States gazette, he commenced, in conjunction with
Asbury Dickens, the
Portfolio, at first a weekly, but afterwards a monthly periodical, which acquired a high reputation.
In that publication he adopted the literary name of “Oliver Oldschool.”
The
Portfolio became the recognized leader in periodical literature, and was enriched by the contributions of some of the foremost writers in the country.
Mr. Dennie continued his connection with it until his death, Jan. 7, 1812.
