Henry Norman Hudson, an American essayist, born in Cornwall, Vt., Jan. 28, 1814. His early youth was passed on a farm; from his 18th to his 21st year he lived in Middlebury as an apprentice at the trade of coachmaking, during which time he prepared himself for college. He graduated at Middlebury college in 1840, and went to Kentucky, where he remained a year engaged in teaching, an occupation which he subsequently followed for two years in Huntsville, Ala. Having during this time applied himself especially to the study of Shakespeare, he wrote and delivered at Huntsville a course of lectures on the great dramatist, which he subsequently delivered in different parts of the country, and finally printed (2 vols. 12mo, New York, 1848). In 1844 he became a communicant of the Episcopal church, and was ordained to the priesthood in New York in 1849. He has since edited the works of Shakespeare (11 vols. 12mo, Boston, 1850-'57), and for a short time edited the "Churchman." He was rector of the Episcopal church in Litchfield, Conn., in 1859 and 1860. In the winter of 1860-'61 he delivered a new course of Shakespearian lectures.

During the civil war he was a chaplain, in the army, and subsequently taught school in Boston, and for two years edited the "Saturday Evening Gazette." He has published " A Chaplain's Campaign with Gen. Butler" (1865), a " School Shakespeare" (1870), " Shakespeare, his Life, Art, and Characters" (1872), and "Sermons" (1874).