Biography
                       (1807-1882)
   Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in 1807 in Portland, Maine. He first went to school at the age of 3 years old, by the age of six years of age he was one of the best of the bos in school, he spelled and read very well, he also added and multiplied very well. From all the books that were read to him by his mother the book which influenced him most was Washington Irving's "Sketch Books" Irving was another American author who the native legend and land scape were soures of inspiration. Children and adults both admired and respected Longfellow.
When he turned seventy-five years old, his birthday was celebrated throughout the United States. When he walked into a room the gentlemen would take their hats off as a  sign of respect and admiration.

              Longfellow's fatherwanted his sun to become a lawer very badly, but when he became a senior in collage at the age of 19. The collage had singed him up for modern languages. He was asked to become a proffesor which had given him some time to travel and study in Europe. He had his first poem published in his home town's newspaper. One of the most recognized poems would be "song of Hiawatha" is about Native American Indian legends and stories. He he was knowledgeable in history about earth science.
            In May of 1826 he had set out to turn himself into a scholar and a linguist. He had return to America in 1829. He married his first wife Mary Stoner Potter in 1831, whom he had known as a schoolmate. He was appointed to a professorship at Harverd ans again was sent to Europe for preparation in 1834, but this time his wife had gone with him. The trip ended terrably, his wife had returned to Cambrige alone . Him sad and alone took a room at historic Craige House, an old house overlooking the Charles River owned by Mrs. Craige, an ecentric woman who kept much to the young men she lend rooms to. Longfellow stayed there not knowing that was to going to be his home fort he rest of his life. As time past, it passed into the possession of Nathan Appleton.
            Seven years later, Longfellow married Frances Appleton, Nathan's duaghter, and the house was given to him as a wedding gift. "The Courtship of Miles Standish" was published in 1858, 25,000 copies were sold in the first week then 10,000 were ordered in London the first day it was publicated.
            The happy family came to an end once again on 1861 when Longfellow's wife died of burns she received. Longfellow  faced the bitterest of his life. The years that followed this tragedy were filled with honors, he was given honorary degress at the great universities of Oxford and Cambrige. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow cane to an end of his career, he died on March 24, 1882.