Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) Author, essayist. Born in Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard University at the age of 18, and later entered and graduated from the Harvard Divinity School. In 1829, he married Ellen Tucker. Tragically, she died just 17 months later. Emerson moved to Concord, Massachusetts. His first published work, Nature(1836) described the outlines of his belief in transcendentalism, a. doctrine whose followers believed in the importance of individuality, as well as a deep connection to nature. This philosophy also rejects the importance need for materialism. Two volumes of Essays were published in 1841and in 1844. A collection of Poems(1847) was then published. Emerson was a noted lecturer; he spoke in the United States and in Europe. A collection of these speeches are found in the book Representative Men(1850). Emerson gave many speeches opposing slavery.

Other novels by Emerson include The Conduct of Life(1860), Society and Solitude(1870), Parnassus(1874), Letters and Social Aims(1876), and Natural History of Intellect(1893).

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