Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

After reading parts of the book, The Song of Hiawatha, in school, I decided to write this biography on the American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Longfellow was one of the most famous poets of the United States during the 1800's. Born in Portland, Maine, in 1807, Longfellow went to school at Bowdoin College. For four years, he traveled in Europe while training to be a teacher.Then, he went back to the U.S. and taught languages at his old college from 1829 to 1835. While on a second trip to Europe in 1835, during a second trip to Europe, his wife, Mary Storer Potter, died in the Netherlands. Longfellow again taught in the U.S. from 1836 to 1843, this time at Harvard University. In 1843, he married Fanny Appleton, and, eleven years later, he retired to spend his time writing. He was devastated when in 1861, she died in a horrible accident. His poem "The Cross of Snow" was written for her.

When Longfellow published his first book of poems, Voices of the Night, in 1839, they were given excellent reviews. His later poems include Ballads , and three long poems: Evangeline, The Song of Hiawatha ; and The Courtship of Miles Standish. Longfellow also wrote stories which include The Seaside and the Fireside; Tales of a Wayside Inn; and Ultima Thule. The Tales of a Wayside Inn includes the famous poem, Paul Revere's ride. Longfellow is one of the most popular of American poets, mostly for his simple style. His pieces were very important in making people appreciate the beauty of poetry.

by Daniel Chor
Miami, Florida