Oliver Wendell Holmes 29 August 1809 7 October

Oliver Wendell Holmes 29 August 1809 – 7 October 1894

Born in Cambridge, Mass. – a descendant of Anne Bradstreet l Graduated from Harvard in 1829 – briefly studied law before moving on to medicine. Medical degree in 1836 but published Poems, his first collection, in the same year. l Became the leading medical researcher in the U. S. and was the Dean of Harvard Medical School 1847 -1853 l

l Founded The Atlantic Monthly with friend and fellow poet James Russell Lowell. He used the magazine to promote poems and essays. l Married in 1840 – short (5’ 5”) – youthful looking. l Died in 1894 – age 85 – lived later than other Fireside Poets.

“Old Ironsides” l Written in 1830 to protest the planned destruction of the War of 1812 battleship, the U. S. S. Constitution. Printed in the Boston Daily Advocate on 16 Sept. 1830, it was later printed on leaflets and distributed throughout the country. Public response was overwhelming. The poem saved the ship and earned Holmes national recognition.

U. S. S. Constitution l 42 gun warship commissioned by Washington in 1797. l Outsailed British ships to wind several decisive battles in the War of 1812. l 1928 – U. S. schoolchildren contributed money to restore her – still docked in Navy Yard, Charlestown, Mass. – moved on 4 July to big celebrations.