Pier 5 Condo

Henry D. Thoreau is one of the most influential 19th century America literary figures. He was an advocate of nature, social critic, and political thinker.

His best known work is Walden (1854), an account of his two-year experiment in simple, self-sufficient living, and Civil Disobedience (1849), an essay on nonviolent resistance.

Thoreau was born in Concord, Massachusetts on July 12, 1817 to Cynthia (1787-1872) and John Thoreau (1787-1859). He had two sisters and one brother; Helen, Sophia, and John, all of whom became school teachers.

Thoreau was educated at Concord Academy (1828-1833), and at Harvard University, graduating in 1837. While at college, he got acquainted with Ralph Waldo Emerson writings. Emerson later became his friend and mentor.

After graduation, Thoreau worked for a time in his father’s pencil factory. He also taught at a grammar school and did some tutoring. In 1839 he decided not to pursue a schoolteacher’s career, but should instead try to become a writer.

From 1841 to 1843 Thoreau lived at the Emerson house. He was an assistant to Emerson, helping to edit and contributing poetry and prose to the The Dial, a transcendentalist magazine.

In 1845 Thoreau built himself a small cabin on the shores of Walden Pond for 28 dollars. He remained for more than two years. While at Walden, he was observing nature, reading, writing, and keeping a detailed journal of his activities and thoughts. From this journal he later created the work he is most famous for – Walden, Or Life in the Woods (1854).

During the time he lived at Walden Pond, he was arrested for refusing to pay taxes. He spent a night in jail. This experience inspired his most well-known essay – Civil Disobedience (originally Resistance to Civil Government).

After Walden, Thoreau resided first for a few years in Emerson’s house and then for the rest of his life in his family home. He was little known outside his circle in his day.

Thoreau was only 44 years of age at the time of his death from Tuberculosis, a disease that had plagued him throughout his adult life. He died on May 6, 1862.