John A. Joyce

John Alexander Joyce (July 4, 1842 – January 18, 1915) was an Irish–American poet and writer. He served as a first lieutenant and regimental adjutant in the Union Army. He was indicted for his role as Internal Revenue Service agent in the Whiskey Ring.

Early life John Alexander Joyce was born on July 4, 1842, in Sruhagh, Ireland, to Michael and Catherine Joyce. He moved to Kentucky at an early age and grew up there. He graduated from Highland Literary Institute in Mount Sterling, Kentucky, in 1859. He then studied law. After the war, he read law in the office of Senator William B. Allison in Dubuque, Iowa. He graduated from Senator Allison's office on November 8, 1864.

On November 1, 1866, Joyce moved to Washington, D.C. He was pardoned by President Rutherford B. Hayes in December 1877. He later returned to Washington, D.C. Around 1910, Joyce became a clerk for the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He worked with the Treasury until his death.

Joyce wrote biographies and poetry. He claimed to have written Ella Wheeler Wilcox's 1883 poem that begins memorably, "Laugh, and the world laughs with you. Weep, and you weep alone." He also published the following books: "Checkered Life" (1883) "Jewels of Memory" (1896) "Peculiar Poems" (1900) "Zig Zag" "Complete Poems" "Brickbats and Bouquets" "Oliver Goldsmith" "Edgar Allan Poe" "Beautiful Washington" (1903) "Personal Recollections of Shakespeare" "Truth" "Robert Burns"

Personal life Joyce married Katie M., a clerk at the Treasury Department. She died in 1902. Joyce had three daughters, Katie Darling (died 1886), Florence and Libby. Joyce was a Freemason – a member of Columbia Lodge No. 3 in Washington, D.C. He was often referred to as the "poet of Washington".

Later in life, Joyce was friends with Champ Clark who grew up near his boyhood home in Kentucky.

Joyce lived at 3238 R St. NW in Washington, D.C. Joyce died at Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C., on January 18, 1915. He erected a monument of himself at Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C. He is buried there.