An American author, editor, and leader in civil service reform. He was born to a wealthy Rhode Island family. After being educated by private tutors and in boarding schools, he spent two years at the Brook Farm communal living farm/school. He was strongly influenced by the other prevalent Transcendental writers who lived there at the same time (such as Emerson). He later travelled to Europe, Egypt, and Palestine. When he returned in 1850, he joined the New York Tribune. He became a popular lecturer and published books on his travels. He was also an associate editor of Putnam's Monthly Magazine and two different columnist in Harper's Magazine. Many of his essays were satires of New York's fashionable society. Curtis was also actively involved in politics, beginning with the 1856 presidential campaign for Republican candidates. He became political editor of Harper's Weekly in 1863. He was offered various nominations and appointments by the Republican Party, which he refused, until 1871, when President Grant appointed him the chairmanship of the commission on civil service reform. He lHe left the Republican Party to become an independent in 1884. In 1890 he became chancellor of the University of New York.