Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Force, Peter

Editor; born at Passaic Falls, N. J., Nov. 26, 1790; learned the printer's trade in New York City, and was president of the New York Typographical Society in 1812. In November, 1815, he settled in Washington, D. C., became a newspaper editor and publisher; and was mayor 1836-40. He was majorgeneral of the militia of the District of Columbia in 1860, and was president of the National Institute. In 1833 he made a contract with the United States government for the preparation and publication of a documentary history of the American colonies covering period of the Revolution. He prepared and published 9 volumes, folio, and had the tenth prepared, when Congress refused to make further appropriations for the work, and it has never been brought out. He had gathered an immense collection of books, manuscripts, maps, and plans; and in 1867 his entire collection was purchased by the government for $100,000, and was transferred to the library of Congress. His great work is entitled American archives. Mr. Force's first publication in Washington was the National calendar, an annual volume of national statistics, which was published from 1820 to 1836. He died in Washington, D. C., Jan. 23, 1868.