"The Life and Voyages of Columbus" appeared in 1828, and was followed by "Voyages of the Companions of Columbus." In 1829 Washington Irving came again to England, this time as Secretary to the American Legation.

He published the "Conquest of Granada." In 1831 he received the honorary degree of LL.D.from the University of Oxford.

Then he returned to America, published in 1832 "The Alhambra;" in 1835 "Legends of the Conquest of Spain." In 1842 he went again to Spain, this time as American Minister.

Other works were produced, and at the close of his life he achieved his early ambition, by writing a Life of Washington, after whom he had been named, and who had laid his hand upon his head and blessed him when he was a child of five.

Although the first of the five volumes of the Life of Washington did not appear until he was more than seventy years old, he lived to complete his work, and died on the 28th of November, 1859.