Thomas Colley Grattan (1792 – 4 July 1864) was an Irish novelist, poet, dramatist, travel writer, historian and diplomat.
This work was Highways and Byways, or Tales of the Roadside,’ which, on its appearance in 1823, dedicated to Washington Irving, made its author's name widely known both in England and on the continent, and was several times reprinted.
This was produced by Kean at Drury Lane Theatre on 21 May 1827, but the actor, through ill-health and domestic misfortunes, broke down, and the play failed with him.
He there produced Traits of Travel, which was well received; The Heiress of Bruges, a historical romance; and The History of the Netherlands, became a standard work.
[2] At a critical moment in the affairs of the new kingdom, during the riots at Brussels in 1834, Grattan began a correspondence with The Times newspaper, and his letters were translated and reproduced in continental journals.
His services were acknowledged by Leopold, and partly owing to his influence he, in 1839, received the appointment of British consul to the state of Massachusetts.
Grattan made himself completely master of the subject, and communicated his opinions to Lord Ashburton when that nobleman arrived in the United States in 1842 as minister plenipotentiary for the purpose of settling the boundary question.
Grattan was unanimously chosen by both parties to assist at the negotiations at Washington, and contributed to the conclusion of the treaty of 9 April 1842.
From this period he mainly resided in London, where he resumed his literary labours, and among other works produced, in 2 vols., in 1862, Beaten Paths and those who trod them, which contains autobiographical recollections.