James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) lived most of his life in Cooperstown, New York, established by his father William. He was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church and in his later years contributed generously to it. He attended Yale University for three years, where he was a member of the Linonian Society, but was expelled for misbehavior. Before embarking on his career as a writer he served in the U.S. Navy as a Midshipman which greatly influenced many of his novels and other writings. He is probably better known for his frontiersmen novels such as ‘The Last of the Mohicans'.
However, he also wrote factual books and novels about the age of sail.
Many of his novels are not copyright in many countries and some are available as free eBooks in the online store.