Robert Walsh was born to Robert and Elizabeth (Steel) Walsh in Baltimore, Maryland on August 30, 1784. He studied at Georgetown College before earning his B.A. and M.A. at St. Mary's Seminary. He was married twice: first to Anna Moylan and second to Mrs. Stocker. Walsh worked in publishing for the bulk of his career, founding the first American Review of History and Politics, founding and editing the second American Review of History and Politics (1817-1818), founding (with William Fry) the National Gazette and Literary Register (1820-1835), editing the Museum of Foreign Literature and Science (1822-1833), and establishing the American Quarterly Review (1827-1837). He also practiced law briefly, taught English at (1818-1828) and served as a trustee of (1818-1833) the University of Pennsylvania, managed Rumford's Military Academy in Mt. Airy, Pennsylvania, and published a number of books. Walsh moved permanently to Paris, France in 1837 and served as the U.S. Council-General in Paris from 1844 to 1855. He died in Paris on February 7, 1859 and is buried in Versailles, France.

Jean Guillaume Hyde de Neuville was born to William and Maria (Roger) Hyde near La Charité, France on January 24, 1776. His wife, Anne-Marguerite, was a prominent artist. An outspoken royalist, Hyde and his wife lived in exile in the United States during Napoleon's reign (1807-1814). They returned France after the Restoration and Hyde served as the French ambassador to the United States (1816), to Brazil (1820), to Constantinople (1822) and to Lisbon (1823). In recognition of his services, Hyde was created Count of Bemposta by King John VI of Portugal (1823), Baron Hyde of Neuville by King Charles X of France (1830), and Marquess of Bemposta by Queen Mary II (1835). He died in Paris on May 28, 1857, at which time his French barony became extinct and his Portuguese honors were transferred to his nephew, Theodore Estevão de la Rue St. Leger.