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Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25, 1803 – April 27, 1882), who went by his middle name Waldo, was an American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, abolitionist, and poet who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century.
- Who Was Ralph Waldo Emerson?
- Early Life and Education
- Travel and Writing
- American Transcendentalism
- Later Work and Life
- Death
In 1821, Ralph Waldo Emerson took over as director of his brother’s school for girls. In 1823, he wrote the poem "Good-Bye.” In 1832, he became a Transcendentalist, leading to the later essays "Self-Reliance" and "The American Scholar." Emerson continued to write and lecture into the late 1870s.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was born on May 25, 1803, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the son of William and Ruth (Haskins) Emerson; his father was a clergyman, as many of his male ancestors had been. He attended the Boston Latin School, followed by Harvard University (from which he graduated in 1821) and the Harvard School of Divinity. He was licensed as...
In 1832 Emerson traveled to Europe, where he met with literary figures Thomas Carlyle, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth. When he returned home in 1833, he began to lecture on topics of spiritual experience and ethical living. He moved to Concord, Massachusetts, in 1834 and married Lydia Jackson in 1835. Emerson’s early preaching had o...
In the 1830s Emerson gave lectures that he afterward published in essay form. These essays, particularly “Nature” (1836), embodied his newly developed philosophy. “The American Scholar,” based on a lecture that he gave in 1837, encouraged American authors to find their own style instead of imitating their foreign predecessors. Emerson became known ...
Emerson’s later work, such as The Conduct of Life(1860), favored a more moderate balance between individual nonconformity and broader societal concerns. He advocated for the abolition of slavery and continued to lecture across the country throughout the 1860s. By the 1870s the aging Emerson was known as “the sage of Concord.” Despite his failing he...
Emerson died on April 27, 1882, in Concord. His beliefs and his idealism were strong influences on the work of his protégé Henry David Thoreau and his contemporary Walt Whitman, as well as numerous others. His writings are considered major documents of 19th-century American literature, religion and thought.
Feb 29, 2024 · Ralph Waldo Emerson (born May 25, 1803, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.—died April 27, 1882, Concord, Massachusetts) was an American lecturer, poet, and essayist, the leading exponent of New England Transcendentalism. Early life and works. Ralph Waldo Emerson, undated colour engraving.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Jan 3, 2002 · An American essayist, poet, and popular philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) began his career as a Unitarian minister in Boston, but achieved worldwide fame as a lecturer and the author of such essays as “Self-Reliance,” “History,” “The Over-Soul,” and “Fate.”
A biography and overview of the life and works of Ralph Waldo Emerson, a New England preacher, essayist, lecturer, poet, and philosopher who was influential in the 19th century American literary and intellectual scene. Learn about his engagement with non-Western cultural sources, his philosophy of Transcendentalism, and his poetry.
Nov 1, 2020 · Learn about the life and work of Ralph Waldo Emerson, a leader of the transcendentalist movement and a influential American essayist, poet, and philosopher. Find out his early years, education, teaching and ministry, publications, and notable quotes.
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A comprehensive overview of the life and philosophy of Ralph Waldo Emerson, a leading figure of American Transcendentalism and a champion of individualism, nature, and social reform. Learn about his biography, major works, legacy, and influences from various sources and perspectives.
