Henry David Thoreau Biography
| Occup. | Author |
| From | USA |
| Born | July 12, 1817
Concord, Massachusetts, USA |
| Died | May 6, 1862
Concord, Massachusetts, USA |
| Cause | Tuberculosis |
| Aged | 44 years |
Early Life and Education
Henry David Thoreau was born on July 12, 1817, in Concord, Massachusetts, USA. He was the third of four kids born to John Thoreau, a pencil maker, and Cynthia Dunbar Thoreau. Thoreau matured in a modest New England home and established a deep gratitude for nature from an early age, an enthusiasm that would exceptionally affect his later work. His early education occurred at the general public school in Concord, and he later attended the Concord Academy, where he demonstrated an aptitude for learning.
In 1833, Thoreau enrolled at Harvard College, where he studied a broad curriculum that included philosophy, classics, and science. Although he was an excellent student, Thoreau was vital of the education system, typically revealing his discontentment with the standard mentor techniques and curriculum. He finished from Harvard in 1837.
Career and Writings
After leaving Harvard, Thoreau struggled to discover a conventional career path. He briefly worked as a teacher however left the occupation after declining to administer corporal penalty to his students. Thoreau returned to Concord and worked in his family's pencil factory, where he established a more efficient technique of producing pencils.
It was throughout this time that Thoreau became connected with a few of the leading literary and philosophical figures of his age, including
Ralph Waldo Emerson, who turned into one of his coaches and closest buddies. Emerson presented Thoreau to the Transcendentalist motion, an intellectual and philosophical movement that emphasized the value of nature, individualism, and spirituality. This connection profoundly influenced Thoreau's thinking and writing.
In 1845, Thoreau started his most popular experiment in easy living. He built a little cabin at Walden Pond on land owned by Emerson and lived there for two years and 2 months. During this period, he checked out concepts of self-sufficiency, simplicity, and the relationship between human beings and nature. This experience ended up being the basis for his most popular work, "Walden; or, Life in the Woods", released in 1854. "Walden" is a reflection on basic living in natural surroundings and one of the cornerstones of American literature.
Advocacy and "Civil Disobedience"
Thoreau was not just an author and biologist but also an outspoken critic of federal government policies and social oppressions. He was a staunch abolitionist and made his mark as a political activist through his essay "Civil Disobedience" (originally titled "Resistance to Civil Government"), published in 1849. The essay argues that people ought to not allow governments to overrule their consciences and must withstand immoral laws. Thoreau wrote it after spending a night in jail for declining to pay a poll tax that moneyed the Mexican-American War and supported the growth of slavery.
"Civil Disobedience" became a foundational text for nonviolent resistance movements worldwide, influencing leaders like
Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.
. Later On Years and Death
In the final years of his life, Thoreau continued to compose and lecture, focusing on topics such as nature and conservation. He was deeply worried about ecological degradation, observing modifications in the Concord environment and documenting his findings diligently.
In spite of his growing influence, Thoreau lived decently and never ever attained extensive popularity during his life time. His health began to decrease in 1860, when he contracted tuberculosis, a typical and often deadly illness at the time. Henry David Thoreau died on May 6, 1862, at the age of 44, in Concord. His legacy, however, continued to grow posthumously as his works got brand-new audiences and recognition for their deep cultural and philosophical insights.
Tradition
Today, Henry David Thoreau is commemorated as one of America's foundational authors and thinkers. His work has left an enduring tradition on environmentalism, civil rights, and literature. Thoreau's extensive reflections on nature, society, and personal stability continue to resonate with readers and inspire motions for social and environmental justice worldwide.
Our collection contains 191 quotes who is written / told by Henry, under the main topics:
Art -
Nature -
Motivational -
Wisdom -
Life.
Related authors: Ralph Waldo Emerson (Philosopher), Mahatma Gandhi (Leader), Martin Luther King Jr. (Minister), Nathaniel Hawthorne (Novelist), Walt Whitman (Poet), Joseph Wood Krutch (Environmentalist), Philo (Philosopher), Carl Clinton Van Doren (Critic), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What did Henry David Thoreau do
A: Author, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist - Q: Henry David Thoreau family
A: Had an elder brother named John, parents were John Thoreau and Cynthia Dunbar - Q: Henry David Thoreau wife
A: Never married - Q: Henry David Thoreau beliefs
A: Transcendentalism, individualism, civil disobedience - Q: Henry David Thoreau cause of death
A: Tuberculosis - Q: Henry David Thoreau nationality
A: American - Q: Henry David Thoreau most famous work
A: Walden - Q: How old was Henry David Thoreau?
A: He became 44 years old
Henry David Thoreau Famous Works:
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