William cullen bryant biography timelines

William Cullen Bryant (November 3, - June 12, ) was an Americanpoet and newspaper editor who achieved literary fame at age 17, after writing the poem, "Thanatopsis." He went on to become one of the most influential journalists of the nineteenth century as editor-in-chief of the New York Evening Post, a career that spanned fifty years.

In addition to his contribution to romanticpoetry, his essays promoted liberal causes and profoundly shaped American thought and politics in the nineteenth century. He was a widely read, and popular figure of the era, and in his later years, served as president of the New York Homeopathic Society.^[1]

Historian Vernon Louis Parrington, author of Main Currents in American Thought () called Bryant, "the father of nineteenth century American journalism as well as the father of nineteenth century Americanpoetry."

Life

Youth and education

Bryant was born in Cummington, Massachusetts, the second son of Peter Bryant, a doctor a