The Life and Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: America’s Beloved Poet
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)
Early Life and Education
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine (then part of Massachusetts) on February 27, 1807. He was the second son in a family of eight children. His mother, Zilpah Wadsworth, was the daughter of a Revolutionary War hero, and his father, Stephen Longfellow, was a prominent Portland lawyer and later a congressman.
Longfellow was a dreamy boy who loved to read. He was fascinated by the stories of sailors speaking Spanish, French, and German in the Portland streets and enjoyed tales set in foreign lands, such as The Arabian Nights, Robinson Crusoe, and the plays of Shakespeare. After graduating from Bowdoin College, he studied modern languages in Europe for three years before returning to Bowdoin to teach.
Marriage and Early Publications
In 1831, Longfellow married Mary Storer Potter of Portland, a former classmate. Soon after, he published his first book, Outre Mer (“Overseas”), a description of his travels. Tragically, in November 1835, during his second trip to Europe, his wife died during a miscarriage. He spent a grief-stricken year in Germany and Switzerland.
Harvard and Literary Success
Longfellow accepted a position at Harvard in 1836. Three years later, at the age of 32, he published his first collection of poems, Voices of the Night, followed in 1841 by Ballads and Other Poems. Many of these poems, such as “A Psalm of Life,” resonated with a young nation struggling for identity, depicting individuals triumphing over adversity. Both books were immensely popular.
Longfellow’s growing duties as a professor left him little time to write. He also faced personal disappointment when Frances Appleton, a young woman from Boston, initially refused his proposal of marriage.
Marriage to Frances Appleton and Continued Success
Frances eventually accepted his proposal, leading to 18 of the happiest years of Longfellow’s life. They had six children, five of whom lived to adulthood. This marriage brought him newfound confidence, and in 1847, he published Evangeline, a book-length poem about the forced expulsion of the Acadians from Nova Scotia.
In 1854, Longfellow decided to quit teaching to focus entirely on writing. He published The Song of Hiawatha, a long poem about Native American life, and The Courtship of Miles Standish and Other Poems. Both were highly successful. As the nation moved towards civil war, he wrote “Paul Revere’s Ride,” a stirring call for courage.
Tragedy and Later Works
In 1861, tragedy struck again when Frances Longfellow died after her dress caught fire. Deeply saddened, Longfellow published nothing for two years. He found solace in his family and in reading Dante’s Divine Comedy, which he later translated. Tales of a Wayside Inn, written before his wife’s death, was published in 1863.
Later Years and Legacy
After the Civil War, Longfellow’s fame continued to grow. His poems were popular throughout the English-speaking world and widely translated. His admirers included prominent figures like Abraham Lincoln, Charles Dickens, and Charles Baudelaire.
Longfellow published seven more books of poetry between 1866 and 1880. His 75th birthday in 1882 was celebrated nationwide. However, his health was declining, and he died on March 24, 1882.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow remains one of America’s most beloved poets. His works continue to be read and appreciated for their lyrical beauty, universal themes, and enduring appeal.