Christopher Oscanyan

Christopher Oscanyan (; 28 April 1818 – 1 August 1895), also known as Khachig Oskanian and Khachadour Vosganian, was an American-Armenian journalist and writer. He was one of the first Armenian settlers in the United States. He also served as Turkish consul in New York.

Biography Oskanyan was born in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire. His parents, who were ethnic Armenian people, christened him Hatchik, which he later changed to Christopher. He learned from private tutors the Armenian, Turkish, and modern Greek languages; to these he soon added Italian and French, and, having heard English spoken, he wished to learn it also. To this end he made the acquaintance of the American missionaries that had then lately arrived in the Ottoman Empire. One of these, Harrison G. O. Dwight, took an interest in him, and after the death of Oscanyan's mother enabled him to go to the United States to obtain a liberal education.

Oscanyan arrived in New York City in 1834 or 1835 and was at once matriculated at the University of the City of New York. Author Dennis Papazian believes that he was most probably sent to the United States by Christian missionaries.

In 1849, he wrote a satirical romance in Armeno-Turkish, or Turkish written in the Armenian character, entitled Acaby. This was followed in 1851 by Veronica, another work of fiction, and by Bedig, a book for children. The same year he published an Armenian translation of The Mysteries of Paris. In 1853, with the assistance of others, he opened an Oriental museum in London, but the enterprise was not successful and he returned to New York.

In New York, Oscanyan wrote and published The Sultan and His People (New York, 1857), 16,000 copies of which were sold in four months. In 1868, Oscanyan was made Turkish consul general in New York City, and he held the office until 1874. Having occasion to visit Constantinople in 1872, he was assigned by the porte as the representative of the sultan in entertaining Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman during his visit to Turkey.

On resigning his consulship he again busied himself in literary pursuits in New York City. He wrote another work on Turkey and the libretto of a comic opera.

Oscanyan was president of the New York Press Club.

Publication The Sultan and his People (1857)