Frank Goodrich was born in Hartford, CT to Mary Boott Goodrich and Samuel Griswold Goodrich, the popular author of the "Peter Parley" tales of geography and adventure. After graduating from Harvard in 1845, Goodrich moved to Paris when his father was chosen as the United States consul. Goodrich’s literary career began there when, under the pseudonym of "Dick Tinto," he wrote letters to the New York Times about Paris and its government (J. Derby 123). These letters, which his obituary describes as “remarkable for their perception of character, correct judgment of events, and sagacity in political prediction,” were collectively published as Tricolored Sketches of Paris. Goodrich’s most well known works include The Court of Napoleon, Man upon the Sea, The Tribute Book, and Women of Beauty and Heroism (The Goodrich Family in America).
Following the family’s return to the United States in New York in 1855 , Goodrich became interested in theater and wrote several plays which were produced at Wallack’s “or some other standard theatre” and well-received. Goodrich collaborated on plays such as The Poor of New York with Dion Boucicault, Romance after Marriage with Frank L. Warden, and The Dark Hour Before the Dawn with Pfaff’s regular John Brougham (“Goodrich, Frank Boott”). His return to the U.S. also marking the beginning of Goodrich’s association with Pfaff’s, where he often had lunch and was one of the "brightest and most popular humorous men of the day." (J. Derby 239). In 1860 he began translating the novels of Balzac along with Orlando Williams Wight. Unfortunately, the books were not well-received by American readers, despite that they were considered well done (241). A staunch Republican and supporter of the Union during the Civil War, Goodrich published The Tribute Book, A Record of the Munificence, Sacrifice, and Patriotism of the American People during the War for the Union (1865).
After his eyesight failed him, preventing him from earning a living, Goodrich went abroad for several years before seeking his retirement at a country house on the Hudson. He spend his later years in New York City, retaining a lively interest in politics but living a quiet life due to his eyesight. Goodrich married Ella Schmidt, daughter of a Southern physician in 1859, and the couple never had children. His obituary states, “He was unswerving in his friendships, though not demonstrative, a patriot, and a man of absolute honor, and in the still more private relations of life--unsullied.” He died at the age of sixty-eight in Mooristown, NJ (“Frank Booth Goodrich”).
References & Biographical Resources Clare, Ada. "Matilda Heron in 'Geraldine'." New-York Saturday Press. 27 Aug. 1859: 2. Clare refers to Goodrich by his pseudonym, "Dick Tinto." Derby, J.C. Fifty Years among Authors, Books and Publishers. New York: G. W. Carleton and Co., 1884. Derby recalls that shortly after the establishment of the New York Daily Times, letters from the Paris correspondent, Dick Tinto, were printed in the paper."Dick Tinto" was Goodrich's nom-de-plume; Goodrich was the only son of Samuel G. Goodrich (Peter Parley).These letters caught the public's attention and were printed in Harper's (123). He is mentioned as one of the "brightest and most popular humorous men of the day," known to rally around the book store of George W. Carleton.Derby notes that "the noonday hour frequently found most of them at Pfaff's celebrated German restuarant, in a Broadway basement, near Bleecker-street, the rendezvous at that day of the so-called Bohemians."Derby notes that his pen name was "Dick Tinto" (239). According to Derby, Goodrich was a classmate and life-long friend of Nathaniel Hawthorne (113). For publisher George W. Carleton, Goodrich translated the entire novels of Balzac."The work was well done and although Balzac was the most popular novelist in France, and is even now talked of as the greatest French novelist, the books proved a failure."Goodrich was also the author of the "Court of Napoleon" and other popular works.He was one of "Peter Parley's" sons and had been the French correspondent to the Times, writing under the name "Dick Tinto" (241). [pages:113,114,123-126,239,241] Dodo [O'Brien, Fitz-James]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." Saturday Press. 23 Oct. 1858: 2-3. [pages:3] Fawcett, Edgar. "[Before I was famous]." Brooklyn Eagle. 25 May 1884: 9. Goodrich may be the "dreamy Frank" referred to in the poem. [pages:9] "Goodrich, Frank Boott, 1826-1894." Literature Online biography. Cabridge: Chadwyck-Healey, 2003. Goodrich Family Memorial Association . William Goodrich of Wethersfield, Conn , Richard Goodrich Of. General Books LLC, 2010. 226. Gives his name as Frank Booth Goodrich, as well as a birth date of 1826 Haynes, John Edward. Pseudonyms of Authors: Including Anonyms and Initialisms. New York, 1882. This text identifies the following pseudonym: Dick Tinto (28). [pages:28] Leland, Charles Godfrey. Memoirs. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1893. [pages:56] "Literary Items." Saturday Press. 11 Dec. 1858: 2. A note lists Goodrich among the members of the newly formed literary club, the "Athanaeum," in New York (2). [pages:2] "Literary Items." Saturday Press. 14 Dec. 1858: 2-3. A note reports that the Saturday Press has prinited the profile of Nell Gwynn from Goodrich's Women of Beauty and Heroism on its first page (2). [pages:2] "Literary Items." Saturday Press. 27 Nov. 1858: 3. A note mentions Goodrich as the editor of Women of Beauty and Heroism, from Semiramis (?) to Eugenie (3). [pages:3] Lukens, Henry Clay. "American Literary Comedians." Harper's New Monthly Magazine. 01 Apr. 1890: 783-797. [pages:793] Maurice, Arthur Bartlett. "Literary Clubland II:New York's Literary Clubs." The Bookman: A Review of Books and Life. 01 Jun. 1905: 392-406. He is described as one of the "others who rallied" at Pfaff's.His pen name is given as "Dick Dinto." [pages:396] O'Brien, Fitz-James. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. 25 Dec. 1858: 3. O'Brien writes that he, Brougham, Goodrich are currently working on a three act play titled "The Dark Hour Before Dawn" to be performed by amateurs for a Dramatic Fund Association benefit in the chief cities of the Union (3). [pages:3] Personne [Wilkins, Edward G. P.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New-York Saturday Press. 26 Feb. 1859: 2. Personne notes that Goodrich and Brougham have worked on The Dark Hour Before the Dawn (2). [pages:2] Personne [Wilkins, Edward G. P.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. 19 Apr. 1859: 2. Personne mentions Brougham's and Goodrich's five-act play, the dedication of the piece, and the authors' repeated claims to originality (2). [pages:2] Personne [Wilkins, Edward G. P.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. 19 Mar. 1859: 3. Personne writes that "society" has heard Brougham and Goodrich's The Dark Hour Before the Dawn read and has enjoyed it (3). [pages:3] Quelqu'un [Winter, William]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. 26 Mar. 1859: 2. Quelqu'un mentions Brougham's and Goodrich's The Dark Hour Before the Dawn (2). [pages:2] "“Frank Booth Goodrich.” The New York Times. March 22, 1894." The New York Times. 22 Mar. 1894. “Frank Booth Goodrich.” The New York Times. March 22, 1894.