Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)
Poet, was born in Portland, Maine, the son of Stephen Longfellow, a lawyer. From childhood he cared little for games, but was always devoted to reading. In 1822 he was sent to Bowdoin College,where his father was a Trustee, and after graduating was appointed to a new Chair of Modern Languages; a bit later he was sent to Europe for a three years’ course of study. He accordingly went to France, Spain, and Italy. In 1829, on his way back, he commenced his professional duties, writing also for North American Review. In 1831 he got married, and in 1833 he published his first books, a translation from the Spanish, followed by the first part of Outre Mer, an account of his travels.
At the end of the year Longfellow was invited to become Professor of Modern Languages at Harvard, an offer which he gladly accepted. He paid a second visit to Europe accompanied by his wife, who, however, died in Amsterdam. He returned to his duties in 1836, and in 1838, appeared Voices of the Night, containing the “Psalm of Life” and “Excelsior,” which gained extraordinary popularity, and gave him a place in the affections of his countrymen. During the same year Hyperion was released. His next works were Ballads and other Poems, containing “The Wreck of the Hesperus” and “The Village Blacksmith.” In 1843 he married his second wife, and in the same year appeared The Spanish Student, a drama. The Belfry of Bruges and Evangeline (1847), generally considered his masterpiece, followed. In 1849 he published Kavanagh, a novel which added nothing to his reputation as a writer and in 1851 Seaside and Fireside, and The Golden Legend. With a sufficient and secure income from his writings, he resigned his professorship, and devoted himself entirely to literature. Hiawatha appeared in 1855, and The Courtship of Miles Standish in 1858. In 1861 he lost his wife under tragic circumstances, a heavy blow for him. His latest works consisted of a translation of Dante’s Divina Commedia, Tales of a Wayside Inn, The New England Tragedies, and The Divine Tragedy, the last turned into a trilogy with The Golden Legend, named Christus. In 1868 he paid his last visit to England, where he was received with the highest honour. Later works were Three Books of Song, Aftermath, and Ultima Thule. He died on March 14, 1882. Americans owe a great debt to Longfellow because he was among the first American writers to use native themes. He wrote about the American scene and landscape, history and tradition. There two reasons for the popularity and significance of his poetry. First, he had the gift of easy rhyme: he wrote poetry as bird sings; second, Longfellow wrote on themes which appeal to all kinds of people. His poems are full of joy and spirit of optimism that evoke immediate emotions in the readers.
From Biographical Dictionary of English Literature - the Everyman Edition of 1910

links: - a Longfellow antology