Edwin Asa Dix

Who was Edwin Asa Dix?

Edwin Asa Dix, the pen name of Edwin Augustus Dix, was an American author.

Dix was born in Newark, New Jersey, to John Edwin and Mary Joy Dix. He attended the Newark Latin School, then Princeton University from which he graduated in 1881 as Latin Salutatorian, and first in his class with highest grade point average awarded to that date. While at Princeton he was managing editor of The Lit and was awarded the Boudinot Historical Fellowship and other prizes. In 1884 he graduated from Columbia Law School with highest honors, and subsequently admitted to the bar in New York and New Jersey.

Dix toured the world from 1890-92. On August 15, 1895, he married Marion Alden Olcott at Cherry Valley, New York. They had no children, and spent much of their married life abroad, wintering in Egypt, Switzerland, and Colorado. He died suddenly in New York City of myocarditis.

Dix was an active author of fiction and travel articles in various magazines, as well as travel books, novels, and a history of Samuel de Champlain. He also served as Literary Editor of The Churchman. In addition, he composed "Musical Critic's Dream" which was played extensively by John Philip Sousa's band.