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A Writer is Born
Henry David Thoreau is born on this day. His name was David Henry Thoreau at birth, but he changed it after he graduated. His parents are John Thoreau and Cynthia Dunbar. He was their third child. He was born in Concord, Massachusetts near Walden Pond. -
Graduation
Henry David Thoreau graduates from Harvard College. Harvard College is one of the best colleges in the United States. This means Henry David Thoreau was a very smart individual. He then got a job at a school in Concord. Later on, he quit because he did not like the abusive punishment towards the students. -
Thoreau meets Emerson
Henry David Thoreau meets Ralph Waldo Emerson. Thoreau learns transcendentalism from The Dial, an article by Emerson. Transcendentalism is a writing style that focuses on nature and man’s emotions for each other. Thoreau wanted to write books about transcendentalism after he got inspiration from Emerson. -
Started a School
Henry David Thoreau and his brother John start a school called Concord Academy. They taught kids about nature and how a walk in the park solves problems. The school did not last long. John became sick and died. -
Jail Time
Henry David Thoreau does not pay his taxes. The tax collector throws him in jail for a night because of this. His aunt then pays his taxes against his will. He then moves away from the village because he didn’t want to pay taxes. Now he lives near the woods. -
A Famous Place
Henry David Thoreau moved into a house next to what will be Walden Pond. He moved into this house to get away from the village so he doesn’t worry about taxes. The house is modeled by Ralph Waldo Emerson. He lives here for the rest of his life. -
Civil Disobedience
Henry David Thoreau writes a book called Civil Disobedience. Civil disobedience is the right to protest an unjust law. This inspires Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. -
Later On
Henry David Thoreau becomes interested in natural history. He also gets an interest in traveling. Thoreau reads books by William Bartram and Charles Darwin and gets more inspiration. Thoreau then had the idea to write a book about nature. And then Walden was born. -
Walden is Written
Henry David Thoreau finishes Walden. Walden is a book about nature and its beauty. He based it on his experience at Walden Pond. Walden also shows civil disobedience. -
Henry David Thoreau's Death
Henry David Thoreau dies on this day. He dies at the age of 44. His cause of death is tuberculosis. He suffered this for 27 years. His friend's weren't aware of him contracting the disease. His last words were "Now comes good sailing."
