William Ponsonby Furniss was born 23 June 1821 on the island of St. Thomas, Danish West Indies, and died on 14 April 1882 in New York City. He attended North Andover Academy in Massachusetts under the tutelage of Simon Putman. He studied at Harvard University from 1835 to 1841. He was admitted to the senior class in September 1838 and the faculty voted to recommend him for an AB (Bachelor of Arts) degree on 12 July 1839. Simon Greenleaf, Royall Professor of Law wrote to the President of Harvard University on 25 August 1841 informing him that William had completed his two years of law studies. He spent his life as a traveler, writer and lawyer. He spent at least two years, 1847-1848, traveling through Europe and Egypt. He authored at least eight books that were published between 1850 and 1874. The New York City directories between 1851 and 1876 list his occupation as lawyer and notary public. His correspondence, of 8 September 1861, to the State Department included a copy of a circular advertising his business at the Law and Collection Office of William Furniss, Attorney and Counselor at Law, Notary Public and Commissioner of Deeds. While he sought various positions at foreign missions with the State Department between 1853 and 1867, it appears that he was never successful in his quest. He wrote a variety of travel type books, historical books and poetry. He used his own name and also wrote under the pseudonyms of Will De Grasse and William C. Kerr.