Chambers, American artist and writer, later turned to writing romantic fiction to earn a living. According to some estimates, Chambers had one of the most successful literary careers of his period, with a few of his works achieving bestseller status. The book begins: The day Sir William died there died the greatest American of his day. Because, on that midsummer evening, His Excellency was still only a Virginia gentlemen not yet famous, and best known because of courage and sagacity displayed in that bloody business of Braddock.