Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Biography

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow became one of America's most beloved poets, writing accessible verse that celebrated history, family, and the natural world, while his translations and lectures brought European literature to American readers. Works such as "Paul Revere's Ride," "The Song of Hiawatha," and his evocative lyrics established him as a leading voice of the 19th century.

He also taught at Bowdoin and Harvard, mentored younger writers, and used his influence to defend the dignity of literature as a moral force, leaving an enduring imprint that is honored at Mount Auburn Cemetery.