James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851), an American writer of the early 19th century, is most renowned for his historical romances of frontier and Indian life in the early American days characterized by a unique form of American Romanticism. Specifically, Cooper is often remembered for his five 'Leatherstocking Tales,' which includes 'The Last of the Mohicans,' often seen as his masterpiece. Born in Burlington, New Jersey, Cooper grew up in Cooperstown, New York, which his father founded. He attended Yale University but was expelled, and subsequently joined the U.S. Navy, which provided rich experiences that later informed his maritime novels like 'The Red Rover: A Tale' (1827), showcasing his deep understanding of the sea and his commitment to American themes. His works are notable for their portrayal of American landscapes and intense engagement with social and political themes of his time, including the rights of indigenous peoples and the dignity of the natural world. His prose style has been both praised for its grandeur and criticized for occasional verbosity, but his impact on the development of American literature is unquestionable, influencing writers as diverse as Herman Melville and Nathaniel Hawthorne.