William Cullen Bryant

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William Cullen Bryant

• 1794-1878

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• He was born in Cummington, Massachusetts
• His father was a country doctor who taught him
  Greek and Latin
• His mother came from a family of clergy

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• He began writing poetry at 9 years old
• He wrote the 1st version of Thanatopsis at 19,
  which assured his literary future, although at
  the time he was studying to be a lawyer

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• He practiced law for 10 years to support himself,
  but wrote poetry in his spare time

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• Moved to New York City and became a journalist in
  1825
• By 1829, he had become editor-in-chief and part
  owner of the New York Evening Post
• He is one of the founders of the Republican
  political party