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Profile of the Day: Walt Whitman

Today marks the 200th birthday of American poet Walt Whitman! Considered to be one of the most influential poets in American literature, Whitman is often called the “father of free verse.”

Profile of the Day: Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman /  Library of Congress

Whitman was born on May 31, 1819 in West Hills, New York and was the second of nine children. By the age of 11, he had left school and began working to help support his family. He learned the printing trade and eventually became a teacher and journalist.

In 1855, Whitman published Leaves of Grass, one of his most notable collections of poetry, for the first time. He would continue writing and revising it multiple times before his death in 1892 at the age of 72.

Today he is still recognized as one of the greatest American poets in history.

Explore Walt Whitman’s family tree on Geni and share how you’re related to the poet.
 

View Walt Whitman’s Geni Profile

 

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Source: Geni.com

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