His Life, Times and Poetry Walt Whitman 1819-1892 His Life, Times and Poetry

Early Childhood Born on Long Island, New York The second of nine children When he was four, moved to Brooklyn Attended school for only six years before becoming a printer’s apprentice Almost entirely self-educated

Young Man Worked in various print shops in New York City At 17, started his career as a teacher Taught for five years Then turned to journalism full-time Became editor of the New Orleans Crescent There saw slavery first hand Moved back to Brooklyn and started a “free soil” newspaper, 1848

Poetry Pioneer 1855 self-publishes his first version of Leaves of Grass 12 untitled poems Sent a copy to Emerson Used Emerson’s reply in his next edition – without his permission

Thoughts about Emerson’s Letter

Civil War Years Moves to Washington D.C. to care for his brother (wounded at Antietam) Worked in hospitals and as a clerk at the Department of the Interior

Whitman and Lincoln Never met But Whitman saw Lincoln many times Greatly admired the man Greatly affected by his assassination

Post War/Later Years Moves to Camden, NJ to care for his mother Suffers a stroke; finds it impossible to move back to Washington 1882 publication of Leaves of Grass makes him enough money to buy a home

End of his Life Kept revising poetry Last book published 1891 Dies on March 26, 1862 Buried in Camden in tomb of his own design