Henry Wadsworth Longfellow :: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Look then, into thine heart, and write! â€Å"Master Henry Longfellow is one of the best boys we have in school. He spells and reads very well. He can also add and multiply numbers. His conduct last quarter was very correct and amiable.† This quote is from a letter sent home from Longfellow’s school when he was just six years old. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born February 27, 1807, in Portland, Maine. He was the son of Stephen Longfellow and Zilpah Wadsworth Longfellow. Early on, his parents could see that he had an interest in literature. His mother read to him frequently. Don Quixote was one of his favorites but it was Washington Irving’s Sketch Book that influenced him the most. Sent to school at just three years old, Longfellow graduated from Bowdoin College at 19. Upon graduation he was offered a job as professor of modern languages, a program that the college was just putting together. He accepted the position with the stipulation that he would be given a period of time to travel and study in Europe. It was on this journey that he was able to retain many ideas for his future writings. Longfellow walked through the countries so that he could stop at inns and cottages and talk to people. He met peasants, farmers and traders. He traveled to Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and England. Returning to America in 1829, he started his career as a college professor. He had to write his own texts because there were none at that time. In 1831, Longfellow married his first wife, Mary Storer Potter. In 1834, he was offered a professorship at Harvard. Once again, he set out for Europe to prepare himself to teach. His wife accompanied him on this trip and died in Rotterdam. Arriving at Cambridge alone, he took a room at historic Craige House. Eventually, the house was purchased by Nathan Appleton. Seven years after Longfellow came to Cambridge he married Mr.