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The following is an archived discussion of a featured article nomination. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the article's talk page or in Wikipedia talk:Featured article candidates. No further edits should be made to this page.

The article was promoted by Ian Rose via FACBot (talk) 17:00, 28 May 2016 [1].

George Tucker (politician)

[edit]
Nominator(s): Hoppyh (talk) 21:27, 8 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]

This article is about one of America's early educators and writers, whose life included some intriguing paradox, in addition to his publication of the first fiction of colonial Virginia life. Tucker's premier comprehensive biography of Thomas Jefferson, his History of the United States, and lastly, his writing of an early science fiction, also qualifies the article for consideration as a featured article. While Tucker's life could command but a singular in-depth biographer, Robert C. McLean, McLean's book is strengthened by its having resulted from his dissertation—prepared for, reviewed, and approved by a Washington University faculty committee. Publication was made possible by a grant from the Ford Foundation. The work, 230 pages in length, is well sourced by a bibliography which spans 18 pages. Hoppyh (talk) 15:12, 9 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Support on prose. I reviewed this for GAN. Really impressed by the beauty of the prose and the comprehensiveness. This should be one of the finest articles in its field. Sainsf <^>Feel at home 08:38, 9 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]

My thanks again for your remarks, but especially for your time and effort with the GAN. Hoppyh (talk) 13:10, 9 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Image review

  • Fire caption needs editing for grammar/MOS (I would actually suggest doing a more complete check of MOS issues throughout the article)
Done. See below. Hoppyh (talk) 15:32, 9 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Should generally use image scaling rather than a fixed pixel size
Image taken from Richmond Theatre fire. I'll need an image expert to help with this issue. Hoppyh (talk) 15:42, 9 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • File:Prof._George_Tucker.jpg: when/where was this first published? Who is the author and what is the source?
This is a pic of a pic in my home (Tucker was a relative). Hoppyh (talk) 15:42, 9 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
For this and similar: if the upload to Wikipedia was the first publication of the image, then the given copyright tag is incorrect. Nikkimaria (talk) 16:15, 9 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Done. Hoppyh (talk) 20:01, 9 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Are you the copyright holder, though? Nikkimaria (talk) 01:00, 12 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
My understanding is this is a family photo. Hoppyh (talk) 01:39, 12 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
[2]. Nikkimaria (talk) 02:05, 12 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks so much for the tutorial, and your patience! Of course, I haven't the specifics on this photo—from around 1840—other than I am unaware of any publication of it. The same applies to Maria's. I wish there was more I could do to mend the problem. Hoppyh (talk) 02:29, 12 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Done. Source of image file corrected; author unknown per source. Hoppyh (talk) 20:08, 14 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • File:StGeorgeTucker.jpg: source link is dead
Done. Hoppyh (talk) 21:30, 10 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • File:Maria_Carter_Tucker.jpg: when/where was this first published, who is the author, and what is the source?
Image removed—copyright appears to be held by George Washington Foundation. Image file requires permission, for which a request has been submitted. Hoppyh (talk) 21:28, 14 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Done. Date, author, source, and copyright issues resolved. Hoppyh (talk) 21:01, 12 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • File:1811_Richmond_Theatre_fire.jpg: what is the original source?
Done. Hoppyh (talk) 20:32, 10 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
I lack the ability to provide this tag. Hoppyh (talk) 15:47, 9 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Done. Replaced image. Hoppyh (talk) 13:39, 11 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Support Comments This looks good overall, but I have some comments:

  • Family and early life in Bermuda:
    • In the first sentence, I think the em dash sticks out a bit. probably better broken into two sentences.
    • Link St. George's Island?
    • "Reading included..." should be "His reading included..." or something like that, I think.
    • the Calliopean Society: was the one formed a Yale related to Tucker's, or is it just a coincidence? If there's no connection, then there's really no reason to discuss the Yale one.
    • "...but being quite unqualified..." How was he unqualified? Is it that his studies weren't complete, or he just felt that he wasn't up to the task, or something else?
    • "...a career in America." Normally, I think "United States" and "America" are fairly interchangeable, but considering Bermuda is a part of the Americas generally, it might be best to use "United States" here.
Done. Hoppyh (talk) 19:05, 17 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Immigration to America, education and first marriage:
    • I'm not sure "spurned" is the right word here, unless he had an offer to study in London that he rejected.
    • Link College of William & Mary?
A link is provided in the lede and I understand duplicates are discouraged. Hoppyh (talk) 22:51, 17 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
    • "...possessed of much charm and fortune..." I think you're talking about Mary here, but without a possessive, it's hard to tell.
Done. Hoppyh (talk) 19:05, 17 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Richmond society, second marriage, slavery and politics:
    • "well furnished" needs a hyphen.
    • "..., that "slow dull man" according to Tucker,..." It might make the sentence flow better to change this to "(whom Tucker called a "slow dull man")"
    • "While Tucker initiated some literary work, as an attorney he was initially deficient,..." Not sure what you mean by "initiated some literary work". That he began writing?
    • "... being literally disabled in the courtroom..." Maybe "overawed by the courtroom" or "uncomfortable with public speaking"?
    • "... Tucker assaulted him." Do your sources give any detail about the nature of the assault?
Detail added-included in cite. Hoppyh (talk) 01:14, 18 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Done. Hoppyh (talk) 19:12, 17 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Positions on slavery:
    • "Tucker's Letter expressed an early opposition to slavery on his part..." might be better as "Tucker's Letter expressed his early opposition to slavery..."
Done. Hoppyh (talk) 19:12, 17 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Scandal, rustic life and valor:
    • In the first sentence, "sustain the expenses essential to" might be replaced by "support".
    • "In 1803 he joined..." This formulation should have a comma after the year: "In 1803, he joined..." Same for the 1806, 1808, and 1811 dates farther down.
    • "He also reportedly acted as..." Who is reporting this?
    • "He economized..." should be "Tucker economized..." to make the antecedent clear.
Done. Hoppyh (talk) 19:12, 17 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Elective office and early writing:
    • "...Maria's father Charles Carter encountered..." should be "...Maria's father, Charles Carter, encountered..."
Done. Hoppyh (talk) 19:24, 17 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Academics:
    • "... and he was quite well published..." might be better as "...and he published several works..."
Done. Hoppyh (talk) 19:24, 17 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Politics
    • Link Andrew Jackson and Second National Bank?
    • "Tucker as well promoted..." "also" is better than "as well" here.
    • "...criticized Jackson for his defunding of it." It's more concise to just say "criticized Jackson for defunding it."
Done. Hoppyh (talk) 19:24, 17 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • First biography of Jefferson:
    • Not sure what you mean by "complete with franking" here.
Omitted - unnecessary detail (enclosure with seal/postage). Hoppyh (talk) 19:55, 17 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Coke...link added Hoppyh (talk) 19:47, 17 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
    • "...with the Brits..." is too informal.
Done. Hoppyh (talk) 19:58, 17 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Resignation from faculty and relocation:
    • "...the two freed slaves who accompanied him to Philadelphia immediately took flight upon their arrival there." If they were free men, they really can't be said to have taken flight, can they? They just left.
    • Link William Henry Harrison?
Done. Hoppyh (talk) 20:08, 17 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
I think I have addressed everything you mentioned. Thanks so much for your time and effort. Hoppyh (talk) 20:08, 17 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, everything looks to be in order. I'm happy to support. Good luck! --Coemgenus (talk) 13:56, 18 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Comment - Hoppyh I've made a few minor edits to the article. Fine writing. The only thing that strikes me as awkward is this paragraph, which unintentionally lays the last pregnancy on Maria's shoulders. Women of that era really had no choice in the matter.
Though Maria was warned against having more children in her vulnerable physical and emotional state, she again conceived, and died in pregnancy in February 1823. In the carriage to Washington after the funeral, Tucker muffled his face with a handkerchief to hide his tears and feigned a toothache in response to inquirers. Maria's death indeed weighed heavily upon him, as he reflected on his errors in the midst of her travails.
You don't actually say if they were advised not to have more children because she was too frail to withstand another pregnancy, or if her nerves couldn't take more little kids in the house. I'm not sure what "errors" he reflected on, but was it that he caused the pregnancy? Or was he more concerned about his business, than actually grieving for her. If you could reword that paragraph for clarity, it would be good.— Maile (talk) 16:15, 16 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Done - clarified to extent possible per source. Hoppyh (talk) 18:52, 16 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Comments a) Passage use of “ conservative” requires clarification. “Politically, Tucker was a Jeffersonian Republican, but he was also a conservative and supported the national bank.” Commercial development through credit and internal improvements were marks of commercially innovative Federalists amidst the context of existing Virginia planter aristocracy. This fits into Tucker's ability to see the good in both sides. Maybe substitute "conservative" with "commercially innovative". b) I see one last HARV warning left. c) I wonder if there may be related articles for a See Also section. Excellent article. Support FA nomination. TheVirginiaHistorian (talk) 06:12, 17 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Done - political clarification made per cite, HARV warning fixed, and See also articles added. Hoppyh (talk) 12:59, 17 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Coordinator note - Hoppyh, has this had a source review that I'm missing? If not, please request one at Wikipedia talk:Featured article candidates/Image and source check requests. --Laser brain (talk) 01:46, 18 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Request made. See below. Hoppyh (talk) 21:53, 24 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Source review

  • Sources all look reliable, no problems there.
  • You sometimes have a space after "p." and sometimes don't. I standardized them for you so they all have spaces. If you prefer the other way, that's fine, just so long as it's consistent.
Thank you. Hoppyh (talk) 18:17, 24 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Make sure you use "p." for single pages and "pp." for multiple pages. I fixed one, but there are more.
Done. Hoppyh (talk) 18:17, 24 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • Sometimes, you use the same footnote multiple times. Footnotes 4, 5, and 6, for example, are all to the same page of the same book. These should be combined. Given your citation style here, the best way might be with the <ref name=___> format, but other other citation templates are good, too. There's more information on this here, if you're interested.
Done. Hoppyh (talk) 18:42, 24 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]
  • You have an empty heading at the bottom of the "Works (by year)" section.
Done. Hoppyh (talk) 20:26, 24 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]
All Done. Hoppyh (talk) 20:30, 24 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]
OK, this all checks out. Good luck with the article. --Coemgenus (talk) 22:47, 24 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Closing comment -- I'm going to promote but I note there are a great many single-paragraph subsections, which means a lot of subheaders in close proximity and that can be a bit wearing. I wonder whether all the single-paragraph subsections are really necessary, and perhaps could be combined or the subheaders removed entirely. Cheers, Ian Rose (talk) 16:58, 28 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for your time and effort. I should be able to remedy subsection issues - in some cases more than single paragraphs may be the answer. Hoppyh (talk) 19:14, 28 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]
The above discussion is preserved as an archive. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this page.
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