Peter Force, an American journalist and historian, born at Passaic Falls, N. J., Nov. 26, 1790, died in Washington, Jan. 23, 1868. He removed to New York when a child, became a printer, and in November, 1815, removed to Washington. In 1820 he began the publication of the "National Calendar," an annual volume of national statistics, which he continued till 1836. From Nov. 12, 1823, to Feb. 2, 1830, he published the National Journal," a political newspaper, which was the official journal during the administration of John Quincy Adams. From 1836 to 1840 he was mayor of Washington, and was afterward president of the national institute for the promotion of science. In 1833 he made a contract with the government for the preparation and publication of a documentary history of the American colonies, of which nine folio volumes were published, under the title of American Archives." This work occupied Mr. Force for 30 years, and in its prosecution he gathered a large and valuable collection of books, manuscripts, maps, and papers relating to American history. In 1867 this collection was purchased by the government for $100,000, and was transferred to the library of congress.

He also published four volumes of historical tracts, relating chiefly to the origin and settlement of the American colonies; "Grinnell Land" (8vo, Washington, 1852); and "Record of Auroral Phenomena" (4to, Washington, 1856). •