Washington Irving, author of "Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle," was perhaps the first American author to be able to live in wealth solely gleaned from his writings. He also served as an influential United States diplomat, holding posts in London and as minister to Spain. He was famous all over the English-speaking world when he died of a heart attack died at his home, "Sunnyside," in Tarrytown, New York at age seventy-six. He was buried in the cemetery at Sleepy Hollow. (By John Osborne)