Edward S. Ellis

James Fenimore Cooper About The Author American author Edward Sylvester Ellis (1840 -1916) was born in Ohio and wrote under many pen names including James Fenimore Cooper Adams. He was a teacher, school administrator, journalist, and the author of hundreds of books and magazine articles. He is probably known best for his Deerfoot novels read widely by young boys. Ellis attended Yale but was expelled and joined the navy as a midshipman. His father died in 1809 and two years later he married and resigned from the navy. He dabbled in agriculture and politics and wrote fiction. His second novel, The Spy (1821), was based on Sir Walter Scott's "Waverley" novels but using the American Revolutionary War as the setting. The book guaranteed him fame and wealth. His Leatherstocking Tales followed and adhered to the successful formula of The Spy.