Washington Irving, an American writer, was born in New York in 1783 to Deacon William Irving and Sarah Sanders. He was largely self-educated. In 1798, he began work at the law office of Henry Masterton. In 1804, he sailed for France, where he lived and traveled. He returned in 1806 and wrote for many newspapers. His most well-known works of fiction are "Rip Van Winkle," and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Irving died on November 28, 1859, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

In a letter to Julia Sanders, Irving recounts the "hegira" to North Carolina, by way of Washington, DC, of his nephew and niece, Pierre and Helen Irving. Irving describes Helen's social successes, calling her a "delight of society," while in Washington, including an outing to the Brazilian Ministers' hall. He later mentions his predictions on the family's success in the energy business.