Ralph Waldo Emerson, aka "Waldo," was a prominent American essayist, philosopher and poet in the 19th century Transcendentalist movement.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an influential American philosopher, lecturer, and poet. He is best known for his essays on Transcendentalism, a philosophy in which a person looks for spiritual truth through appreciation of nature and the world around them. Emerson's philosophy was revolutionary for its time, and left a lasting impression on American thought.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1803</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Ralph Waldo Emerson is Born</div><div class='timeline-text'>On May 25, 1803, Ralph Waldo Emerson was born in Boston, Massachusetts.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1821</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Enters Harvard University</div><div class='timeline-text'>Emerson enrolled at Harvard University at the age of 18.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1826</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Becomes a Minister</div><div class='timeline-text'>Emerson was ordained a Unitarian minister, following in his father's footsteps.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1832</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Leaves Ministry</div><div class='timeline-text'>Emerson left the ministry after the death of his wife and his own crisis of faith.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1836</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Publishes "Nature"</div><div class='timeline-text'>Emerson published his first major work, "Nature", a foundational text of Transcendentalism.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1841</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Releases "Self-Reliance"</div><div class='timeline-text'>Emerson published "Self-Reliance", one of his best-known essays advocating individualism.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1882</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Emerson Passes Away</div><div class='timeline-text'>Ralph Waldo Emerson passed away on April 27, 1882, leaving a significant legacy in American philosophy and literature.</div></div></div>
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American philosopher born on May 25, 1803. He was a leading thinker in the Transcendentalist movement of the early nineteenth century and was considered one of the most influential writers of the time. He passed away on April 27, 1882 at the age of 78 and is remembered for his essays and speeches on self-reliance, individuality, and the power of nature.