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

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Alsop, Richard, 1761-1815

A witty poet and essayist; born in Middletown, Conn., Jan. 23, 1761. He is best known in literature as the principal author of a series of burlesque pieces, begun in 1791 and ended in 1805, entitled, in collective form, The echo. They were thus published in 1807. Dwight, Hopkins, and Trumbull were associated with Alsop in the production of The echo, which, from a work provocative of mirth, became a bitter political satirist of the Democratic party. He wrote a Monody on the death of Washington, in heroic verse, which was published in 1800. Alsop ranked among the “Hartford wits” at the close of the eighteenth century. He died in Flatbush, L. L., Aug. 20, 1815.