American writer Clement Clarke Moore was a professor of Greek and Oriental literature. In addition, he taught Divinity and Biblical Learning at the Seminary of the Protestant Church in New York City. He donated the land the seminary was on, and it is still there today in the area known as Chelsea Square. Moore inherited a large estate and grew his wealth by developing and subdividing parts of the land. Many scholars believe Moore was the author of “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” (the Christmas poem), although the poem was first published anonymously in 1823. More widely known as “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” some consider Major Henry Livingston, Jr., who was related distantly to Moore’s wife, as the best candidate for authorship.
