Halleck, hal'ek, Fitz-Greene (1790-1867), an American poet. He was born in Guilford, Connecticut. He was a descendant, through his mother, of John Eliot, the "Apostle to the Indians." He attended the village school at Guilford. While still almost a boy he went to New York City and found employment as a clerk in a counting house, where he worked for twenty years. He soon made the acquaintance of Joseph Rodman Drake. The two became warm friends and began writing a series of humorous sketches called The Croakers for the New York Evening Post. Halleck wrote about this time his longest poem, Fanny. It was published anonymously in 1819, and met with instant success. The poem is a satire on the fashion and follies of the time. It contained many local and personal allusions and enjoyed a short lived popularity. In 1820 Drake died. One of Halleck's best known and most perfect lyrics was written on this occasion. In 1832 Halleck entered the office of John Jacob Astor, in whose employ he remained until the latter's death in 1848. Astor left an annuity to Halleck, who now retired to Guilford, making his home with an unmarried sister. Halleck has left a volume of poems, the most noted of which is Marco Bozzaris, called forth by the war for Grecian Independence. School boys are familiar with the opening lines. See BOZZARIS, MARCO; DRAKE, JOSEPH RODMAN.