Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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Longfellow's Birthplace, Portland, ME

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Mary Storer Potter

Fanny Appleton Longfellow Drawing

FA Longfellow and sons c1849

FA Longfellow and sons c1849

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807 – March 24, 1882) was an American poet and educator whose works include "Paul Revere's Ride", "The Song of Hiawatha", and "Evangeline". He was also the first American to translate Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy" and was one of the five members of the group known as the Fireside Poets. Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine, which was then still part of Massachusetts. He became a professor at Harvard University and was instrumental in shaping the cultural landscape of the United States in the nineteenth century.

Early Life

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born to Stephen Longfellow, a lawyer, and Zilpah (Wadsworth) Longfellow in Portland. He attended Portland Academy and later went to Bowdoin College, where he graduated in 1825 alongside future American President Franklin Pierce. After college, Longfellow traveled to Europe to study languages, a trip that greatly influenced his future works and career.

Career

Upon returning to the United States, Longfellow was offered a position to teach modern languages at Bowdoin College. He accepted and spent several years teaching and translating texts from European languages. In 1835, he accepted a position at Harvard University, which allowed him to travel again to Europe for further study before assuming his role.

Longfellow's literary career began to flourish while he was at Harvard. He published several textbooks and essays, but it was his poetry that captured the public's imagination. His poems often featured themes of myth, legend, and history, making them accessible and appealing to a wide audience. "The Song of Hiawatha", published in 1855, and "Evangeline", published in 1847, are among his most celebrated works.

Personal Life

Longfellow married twice. His first wife, Mary Storer Potter, died in 1835 after a miscarriage. In 1843, he married Frances Appleton, who died tragically in a fire in 1861. These personal tragedies deeply affected Longfellow, and themes of loss and longing are prevalent in his later works.

Legacy

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's impact on American literature and culture cannot be overstated. He was among the first American poets to earn a living solely through his writing, and his works were immensely popular both in the United States and abroad. His poems contributed to the shaping of the American identity and were instrumental in the development of American literature.

Longfellow's home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has been preserved as a museum, and his birthday is celebrated as part of Portland's annual Longfellow Days. His influence extends beyond literature; schools, bridges, and parks across the country bear his name, a testament to his enduring legacy in American culture.