RALPH WALDO EMERSON 1803-1882

Born in Boston, the son of a Unitarian minister in seven generations of ministers. Traces ancestry to the Puritans Father died when he was eight – mother opens boarding house to support her and her six children – Aunt Mary Moody Emerson comes to help raise children. Emerson entered Harvard at 14. Reluctantly began his ministry at age 26 – the ministry was expected of him – but resigned at 29 (17-year-old wife Ellen died of TB just before this, and Emerson develops idea that man is self-reliant and divine which lands him in trouble with the church.)(By 1838, he is banned from Harvard)

Travels in Europe for a time and then returns to Concord to marry Lydia Jackson (1835) and to write. Had four children: first-born son Waldo died at age 6 of scarlet fever – Emerson never completely recovered from the depression as Waldo had taught him spontaneity and energy and now these things were gone. Devoted himself to politics, social reforms, and the slavery issue after 1850.

1871 – Emerson begins to suffer a failing mind (Alzheimer’s?) 1872 – Emerson’s home, Old Manse, is destroyed by fire. Friends sent Emerson to Europe while the house was fixed up. Note: Manse refers to a house of a minister. The house was built by Rev. Wm. Emerson whose descendants lived there for the next 169 years. Hawthorne rented Old Manse for three years after his marriage to Sophia Peabody – scratched “Man’s accidents are God’s purposes” into a windowpane.

Emerson died in 1882. Accomplishments: Gave great, overwhelming emphasis to self – held self up as basis of morality, superior to society, and as the ultimate standard of self over others. Considered himself first and foremost a poet.