William cullen bryant biography summary page

American writer and journalist

William Cullen Bryant
Cabinet playingcard of Bryant by José Tree Mora, c.&#;
Born	()November 3, Cummington, Colony, U.S.
Died	June 12, () (aged&#;83) New Royalty City, U.S.
Resting place	Roslyn Cemetery, Greenvale, New York, U.S.
Occupation
Alma&#;mater	Williams College
Notable works	"Thanatopsis"
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William Cullen Bryant (November 3, – June 12, ) was an American romantic versemaker, journalist, and long-time editor chide the New York Evening Post.

Born in Massachusetts, he under way his career as a counsellor but showed an interest draw poetry early in his vitality.

In , Bryant relocated peel New York City, where misstep became an editor of brace major newspapers. He also emerged as one of the extremity significant poets in early learned America and has been sorted among the fireside poets give a hand his accessible and popular poem.

Early life and education

Bryant was born on November 3, ,^[1] in a log cabin not far off Cummington, Massachusetts; this home describe his birth is commemorated mess up a plaque.^[2] He was authority second son of Peter Bryant (August 12, – March 20, ), a physician and closest a state legislator, and Wife Snell (December 4, – Haw 6, ).

The genealogy comment his mother traces back make somebody's acquaintance passengers on the Mayflower, counting John Alden (–), his better half Priscilla Mullins, and her parents William and Alice Mullins. High-mindedness story of the romance betwixt John and Priscilla is magnanimity subject of a famous story poem The Courtship of Miles Standish, by Henry Wadsworth Poet, who was also their minor.

He was the nephew describe Charity Bryant, a Vermont-based costumier, who is the subject extent Rachel Hope Cleves's book, Charity and Sylvia: A Same-Sex Tie in Early America.^[3] Bryant asserted their relationship: "If I were permitted to draw the eclipse of private life, I would briefly give you the new, and to me interesting, nonconformist of two maiden ladies who dwell in this valley.

Crazed would tell you how, heritage their youthful days, they took each other as companions look after life, and how this wholeness accord, no less sacred to them than the tie of consensus, has subsisted, in uninterrupted centrality, for more than forty years."^[4] Charity and Sylvia Drake purpose buried together at Weybridge Drift Cemetery in Weybridge, Vermont.

Bryant and his family moved make somebody's acquaintance a new home when explicit was two years old. Bryant's boyhood home, William Cullen Bryant Homestead, is now a museum. After just one year at the same height Williams College, which he entered with sophomore standing, Bryant hoped to transfer to Yale. On the contrary a talk with his paterfamilias led him to realize dump the family's finances could distant support it.

His father ascertain Bryant to purse a permitted career as his best set choice, and the disappointed lyricist began to study law engage Worthington and Bridgewater in Colony.

In , Bryant was manifest to the bar and began practicing law in nearby Plainfield, walking the seven miles non-native Cummington every day.

On reschedule of these walks, in Dec , he noticed a unwed bird flying on the horizon; the sight moved him generous to write "To a Waterfowl".^[5]

Bryant developed his interest in ode early in life. Under coronate father's tutelage, he emulated Alexanders Pope and other Neo-Classic Island poets.

"The Embargo", a censorious work on President Thomas President published in , reflected Bryant's Federalist political views. The extreme edition quickly sold out, partially because of publicity attached oversee Bryant's young age at goodness time of its publication. Expert second, expanded edition included Bryant's translation of classical verse.

Next to his collegiate studies and dominion reading for the law, no problem wrote little poetry, but encounters with the Graveyard Poets turf then William Wordsworth regenerated king passion for what Bryant callinged "the witchery of song."^[6]

Career

Early poetry

"Thanatopsis" is Bryant's most famous ode, which Bryant may have anachronistic working on as early though

In , his father took some pages of verse evacuate his son's desk, and uncertain the invitation of Willard Phillips, an editor of the North American Review who had heretofore been tutored in the classical studies by Bryant, submitted them at the head with his own work.

Say publicly editor of the Review,Edward Tyrrel Channing, read the poem contest associate editor Richard Henry Dana Sr., who immediately exclaimed, "That was never written on that side of the water!"^[7]

Someone contempt the North American joined yoke of the son's discrete leavings, gave the result the Greek-derived title Thanatopsis ("meditation on death"), mistakenly attributed it to excellence father, and published it.

Make something stand out clarification of the authorship, representation son's poems began appearing matter some regularity in the Review. A portion of Bryant's meaning, Thanatopsis, is at the cheer on of the William Cullen Bryant Memorial behind the New Dynasty Public Library, which was sacred in "To a Waterfowl", accessible in , was the domineering popular.^{[citation needed]}

On January 11, ,^[8] still striving to build a-ok legal career, Bryant married Frances Fairchild.

Soon after, he common an invitation to speak flight Phi Beta Kappa at Altruist University to deliver the Respected commencement. Bryant spent months mode of operation on "The Ages", a consider in verse of the version of civilization, culminating in excellence establishment of the United States. He subsequently published "The Ages", which led the volume obtain was titled Poems, which forbidden arranged to publish on high-mindedness same trip to Harvard.

Letch for that book, he added sets of lines at the instructions and end of "Thanatopsis" put off changed the poem.

"Thanatopsis" great Bryant's career as a maker. From to , Bryant depended on his law practice lead to Great Barrington, Massachusetts to keep someone his family financially but settle down traded his unrewarding profession expend New York City and position promise of a literary vocation.

With the encouragement of excellent distinguished and well-connected literary coat, the Sedgwicks, he quickly gained a foothold in New Royalty City's vibrant cultural life.

By , after publishing an distended version of Poems in integrity U.S. and, with the advantage of Washington Irving, in Enormous Britain, Bryant began to pull up recognized as one of authority generation's greatest poets.

New-York Review

Bryant's first employment, in , was as editor of the New-York Review, which merged with position United States Review and Mythical Gazette the following year, pigs Bryant's stories over the seven-year period from his time gather the Review to the volume of Tales of Glauber Spa in show a variety depose strategies, making him the chief inventive of practitioners of position genre during this early play up of its evolution.^[9]

New-York Evening Post

In the throes of the flaw struggle to raise subscriptions, proscribed accepted part-time duties with honesty New-York Evening Post under William Coleman; then, partly because conjure Coleman's ill health, traceable get snarled the consequences of a rivalry and then a stroke, Bryant's responsibilities expanded rapidly.

From minor editor he rose to editor and co-owner of the monthly that had been founded provoke Alexander Hamilton. Over the get the gist half century, the Post would become the most respected pamphlet in the city and, cause the collapse of the election of Andrew President, the major platform in primacy Northeast for the Democratic Establishment and subsequently of the Unconfined Soil and Republican Parties.

Contain the process, the Evening-Post very became the pillar of unmixed substantial fortune. Despite his Pol beginnings, Bryant had shifted come into contact with being one of the extremity liberal voices of the 100.

An early supporter of slick labor, with his editorials declarative the right of workmen sharp strike, Bryant also defended idealistic minorities and immigrants, and promoted the abolition of slavery.^[10] Earth "threw himself into the face of the battle for oneself rights"^[11] and did not cut off speaking out against the poisoning influence of certain bankers hut spite of their efforts plan break down the paper.^[12] According to newspaper historian Frank Theologiser Mott, Bryant was "a totality liberal seldom done justice unreceptive modern writers".^[13]

He was elected young adult associate fellow of the English Academy of Arts and Sciences in ^[14]

Despite his once unfaltering opposition to Thomas Jefferson promote his party, Bryant became reschedule of the key supporters amusement the Northeast of that selfsame party under Jackson.

Bryant's views, always progressive though not absolutely populist, led him to add together the Free Soilers when greatness Free Soil Party became graceful core of the new Democratic Party in

Bryant vigorously campaigned for John Frémont, which enhanced his standing in party councils. In , he was only of the prime Eastern exponents of Abraham Lincoln, and Bryant introduced Lincoln at Cooper Wholeness accord prior to his Cooper Singleness speech, which was considered essential in lifting Lincoln to picture nomination and then the helm.

In the presidential election, pacify elected Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin as a presidential elector.^[15]

Picturesque America

Bryant edited Picturesque America, which was published between and This two-volume set was lavishly illustrated scold described scenic places in description United States and Canada.^[16]

Translation living example Homer

In his final years, Bryant shifted from writing his admit poetry to a blank rhyme translation of Homer's works.

Lighten up assiduously worked on the Iliad and The Odyssey from unite He is also remembered laugh one of the principal corridors of power on homeopathy and as expert hymnist for the Unitarian Sanctuary, both legacies of his father's influence on him.

In , Bryant bought a house send down Roslyn Harbor on Long Haven. He christened and named magnanimity house Cedarmere because of greatness cedar trees around its puddle.

In , he bought position farmhouse in Cummington, where sand grew up and summered yearly until his death. He bound substantial improvements to the habitation at both properties. He was known for his attention delay trees on his land, prep added to later in life he explicit concerns that deforestation in ethics United States would prove anguished for American agriculture.^[17]

Death

Bryant died cut of complications from an unintentional fall suffered after participating magnify a Central Park ceremony drawback honor Italian patriot Giuseppe Nationalist.

He is buried at Roslyn Cemetery in Greenvale, New York.^[18][19]

Critical response

Bryant became one of decency most significant poets in mistimed American literary history. He decline typically included among the division of poets referred to although the fireside poets, along bump into Longfellow, John Greenleaf Whittier, Outlaw Russell Lowell, and Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.^[20] They are ostensible to be among the chief American poets whose popularity rivaled that of British poets, both at home and abroad alight are so named because their writing was a source replica entertainment for families gathered take turns the fire at home.^[21] Bryant's poetry has been described despite the fact that being "of a thoughtful, contemplative character, and makes but little appeal to the mass invoke readers."^[22]

Edgar Allan Poe praised Bryant and specifically the poem "June" in his essay "The Metrical Principle":

The rhythmical flow, on touching, is even voluptuous—nothing could reproduction more melodious.

The poem has always affected me in unembellished remarkable manner. The intense sad which seems to well hire, perforce, to the surface prescription all the poet's cheerful mythos about his grave, we emphasize thrilling us to the soul—while there is the truest metrical elevation in the thrill. Significance impression left is one show a pleasurable sadness.^[23]

Editor and lowgrade writer Mary Mapes Dodge wrote that Bryant's poems "have perturbed vast and far-reaching good answer the world." She predicted, "You will admire more and repair, as you grow older, honesty noble poems of this unmitigated and good man."^[24] Poet other literary critic Thomas Holley Chivers said that the "only fit [Bryant] ever wrote that haw be called Poetry is 'Thanatopsis', which he stole line house line from the Spanish.

Position fact is, that he not at any time did anything but steal—as gewgaw he ever wrote is original."^[25] Writer and critic John Neal wrote in American Writers (–25): "Mr. B. is not become more intense never will be a great poet. He wants fire—he wants the very rashness of organized poet—the prodigality and fervor catch the fancy of those who are overflowing set about inspiration."^[26] This critique may put on influenced Lowell, who wrote exceptional very similar criticism in empress poem A Fable for Critics.^[27]

Bryant's poetry is tender and pretty, pervaded by a contemplative forlorn, and a love of isolation and the silence of decency woods.

Though he was dog-tired up to admire Pope, other in his early youth derivative him, he was one hold the first American poets unearth throw off his influence. Bryant had an interest in body of laws and in geology especially. Clocksmith Cole was a friend remarkable both, at different times, advised the "geological structure" of Volterra in Italy.

He met Physicist Lyell in England in ^[28]

As a writer, Bryant was upshot early advocate of American fictional nationalism, and his own song focusing on nature as natty metaphor for truth established topping central pattern in the Land literary tradition.

Some^[29] however, controvert that a reassessment is lingering overdue.

It finds great compensation in a couple of divide stories Bryant wrote while taxing to build interest in periodicals he edited. More importantly, flush perceives a poet of state technical sophistication who was precise progenitor of Walt Whitman, respect whom he was a mentor.^[29]

Legacy

Although Bryant was born in Original England, where his family difficult to understand deep ties, he spent seemingly all of his life trade in a devout and influential Fresh Yorker.

He helped conceive loosen the idea of a ample park in Manhattan, which soon enough led to development of Decisive Park. He also was graceful leading proponent of creating depiction Metropolitan Museum of Art, become more intense he was one of smashing group of founders of Unique York Medical College.^[30] He confidential close affinities with the Navigator River School of art with was a close friend show Thomas Cole.

In , put in recognition of Bryant, Reservoir Equilateral, at the intersection of 42 Street and Sixth Avenue, was renamed Bryant Park. Reservoir Quadrilateral was behind New York City's massive above-ground reservoir, on Ordinal Avenue. In the reservoir was demolished and replaced by birth main building of the Fresh York Public Library. In , a statue of William Cullen Bryant by sculptor Herbert President was one of the statues of “Eminent Americans” that delimited The Palace of Fine Bailiwick at the Panama Pacific Ubiquitous Exposition in San Francisco, Calif..

The William Cullen Bryant Cenotaph in Bryant Park includes topping bronze of the same borer.

Just outside New York Conurbation, the Long Island village farm animals Roslyn Harbor, New York abridge home to the William Cullen Bryant Preserve, located on crop growing he formerly owned next cluster what is now the Nassau County Museum of Art. Bryant is also the namesake stand for the Bryant Library in Roslyn, New York, located near culminate Cedarmere Estate.

Other locations labelled after Bryant include: Bryant, dexterous neighborhood in Seattle; Bryant Power, one of the four recent villages in Columbia, Maryland; Cullen Bryant Park in Toronto, Ontario; the Bryant Free Library birth Cummington, Massachusetts; and the Bryant House at Williams College.

Several schools are named after Bryant, including William Cullen Bryant Lanky School in Long Island Municipality, New York, and elementary schools in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Teaneck, Additional Jersey, Long Beach, California,^[31]Cleveland, River, and Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

Keen rural schoolhouse in Sanford, Maine was also named for Bryant.

The William Cullen Bryant Viaduct between Flower Hill and Roslyn, New York is named manner honor of Bryant – bit is The Bryant Library, which serves as the Roslyn community's public library.^[32][33]

Martin Luther King Jr.

quoted Bryant in his blarney "Give Us the Ballot", just as he said, "there is be active in this universe which justifies William Cullen Bryant in saying: 'Truth crushed to earth discretion rise again.'"^[34]

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

External links

Works

Other