Federico Gamboa was born in the City of Mexico, December 22, 1864. After his elementary studies he attended the _Escuela Nacional Preparatoria_ (National Preparatory School), for five years, and the _Escuela de Jurisprudencia_ (Law School) for three more. After an examination, he entered the Mexican Diplomatic Corps, October 9, 1888, and was sent to Guatemala in the capacity of Second Secretary of the Mexican Legation in Central America. In 1890, he was appointed First Secretary of the Mexican Legation to Argentina and Brazil. In 1896, he returned to Mexico, where he remained until the end of 1898, as Chief of the Division of Chancery of the Department of Foreign Affairs. He was then sent again to Guatemala, as _Charge-d’affaires_. In December, 1902, he was appointed Secretary of the Mexican Embassy at Washington, which position he now holds. Through the year 1898, Señor Gamboa was Lecturer on the History of Geographical Discovery in the _Escuela Nacional Preparatoria_. From 1886 to 1888, inclusive, he was engaged in newspaper work in the City of Mexico. In June, 1888, he presented on the Mexican stage a Spanish translation of the Parisian operetta, _Mam’selle Nitouche_, under the title, _La Señorita Inocencia_ (Miss Innocence). In 1889, he presented a translation _La Moral Electrica_ (Electric morality) of a French vaudeville. Besides these translations, Señor Gamboa has produced original dramatic compositions--_La Ultima Campaña_ (The Last Campaign), a three act drama, and _Divertirse_ (To amuse oneself), a monologue; these appeared in 1894. Señor Gamboa has written several books. _Del Natural--Esbozos Contemporáneos_ (Contemporary Sketches: from nature) was published when he was first in Guatemala and has gone through three editions. _Apariencias_ (Appearances), a novel, was published while he was at Buenos Ayres, in 1892. _Impresiones y Recuerdos_ (Impressions and Recollections) appeared in 1894. Three novels, which have been well received are _Suprema Ley_ (The Supreme Law), 1895, _Metamorfosis_ (Metamorphosis), 1899, and _Santa_, 1900. At present Señor Gamboa is writing a new novel _Reconquista_ (Reconquest), and his biographical _Mi Diario_ (My Journal), the latter in three volumes. As may be seen from this brief sketch Señor Gamboa has been a considerable traveler. He has made two European journeys, has twice visited Africa, and has traveled over America from Canada to Argentina. He lived in New York in 1880 and 1881 and holds a city schools certificate for elementary teaching. He was elected a Corresponding Member of the Royal Spanish Academy in 1889, an officer of the French Academy in 1900, and a Knight Commander of Carlos III in 1901.