1. William Cullen Bryant
3 November 1794 – 12 June 1878

2. Born in Cummington, Massachusetts – father was a doctor so Bryant learned Greek and Latin
Began writing poetry at age 9 – wrote rough draft of “Thanatopsis” at age 19
Bryant often composed poetry as he walked to and from his law office, a seven mile walk.
By 1829, Bryant was editor-in-chief and part owner of NYEvening Post newspaper, where he used his position to defend rights of women and abolition of slavery.
Gained a reputation as an orator.
Was the first American poet to win international fame.

3. On the last day of his life, at age 84, Bryant worked at his desk until it was time to go to Central Park to deliver a speech. He forgot his hat and the hot sun caused him to have a spell of dizziness. He fell on his front steps, struck his head and never regained consciousness.
Bryant’s writing guided by the beliefs that the physical world decays and dies; that everything changes and dies; and that the natural world provides the key to the human world. Humanity is fulfilled through the cycle of birth, growth, decay and death.