1. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803- 1882) EARLY LIFE Born: 1803 Son of a Boston Minister (from a long line of ministers Father died when Emerson was 8—leaving mother and her 5 sons in great poverty Saved what little they had for education of her sons

2. EDUCATION Went to Harvard at age 14 to begin studying to be a minister Post graduate years- (12 years of self doubt) –Upon graduation Emerson had serious doubts about his career –Taught for a time before accepting a church position

3. Emerson’s Career as a Minister Was a minister from 1829-1831 Resigned after 3 years –Wife of one year died –Ellen Tucker –Emerson could no longer pretend to believe in some forms of worship his religion held. Didn’t believe in communion

4. New Career Path Began a lecture tour for 2 years and also instructed adult education classes in New England Travel- 1833 traveled to Italy and Great Britain –Met Thomas Carlyle Introduced him to the idea that “God is evident in everything in the Universe”

5. Returned to Concord, Massachusetts in 1834 Remarried and bought a plot of land in Concord Settled down and became a writer –Began to develop a personal philosophy— Transcendentalism –Remainder of his life he continued to write and lecture on Transcendentalism

6. “Self-Reliance” Most famous essay ever written by an American Published in 1841 in a collection of essays entitled Essays: First Series –Deals with the theme of moral independence and nonconformity “man must remain a free individual at all costs. Will must remain free.”