About John Luther Long
Lived 1861 – 1927 (aged 65–66). John Luther Long was an American librettist, writer, lawyer and screenwriter.
John Luther Long (January 1, 1861 – October 31, 1927) was an American lawyer and writer best known for his short story "Madame Butterfly", which was based on the recollections of his sister, Jennie Correll, who had been to Japan with her husband—a Methodist missionary.
Biography Born in Hanover, Pennsylvania, Long had been admitted to the bar in Philadelphia on October 29, 1881, and become a practicing lawyer. On January 17, 1882, he married Mary Jane Sprenkle. He died at age 66 on October 31, 1927, having spent the last two months of his life at a sanatorium in Clifton Springs, New York. The obituary in The New York Times of November 1, 1927, quoted his own interpretation of himself as "a sentimentalist, and a feminist and proud of it".
With David Belasco he wrote the four act play Andrea which starred Mrs. Leslie Carter and which ran for 123 performances at the first Belasco Theatre. His one act play Dolce was staged at the Manhattan Theater on April 24, 1906, starring Minnie Maddern Fiske.
Legacy The Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center has an extensive collection of his papers including correspondence and literary projects. The Darling of the Gods and Andrea
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Important facts
People in John Luther Long's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was John Luther Long?
American lawyer and writer (1861–1927)
When was John Luther Long born?
John Luther Long was born in 1861 in Hanover.
When did John Luther Long die?
John Luther Long died on 31 October 1927 in Ontario County, Clifton Springs.
What was John Luther Long's occupation?
John Luther Long was a librettist, writer, lawyer and screenwriter.
What nationality was John Luther Long?
John Luther Long was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Luther Long. https://biography.guide/john-luther-long/
MLA: "John Luther Long." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-luther-long/.
Chicago: "John Luther Long." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-luther-long/.
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