I competed in the Academic Decathlon when I was in high school. The theme that year was nature. During that time, I came across a lot of different nature writers from Annie Dillard to Rachel Carson. Yet one writer stuck out, so much so I went ahead and checked out Leaves of Grass. That writer was Walt Whitman.

Walt Whitman was born in 1819, and was one of 9 siblings. Due to his family’s financial struggles, when he turned eleven, he dropped out of school to work, eventually becoming a printer’s devil for a newspaper called the Patriot. As time passed, Whitman became involved in community literary events. When he turned 16, he went to New York City and worked as a compositor for a brief time, though it was difficult for him because of the decline of the printing industry, as well as the collapse of the economy. As such, he moved back in with his family and became a teacher. Despite the stability, he was unsatisfied with his career choice.

Soon after, he went to Huntington and founded the Long-Islander newspaper, where he served as the editor, publisher, and deliverer. After working a series of odd jobs, he managed to publish a novel called Life and Adventures of Jack Engle in 1852. He went on to publish Manly Health and Training as well, which served as a quirky, yet loveable guide to all things in life.

In 1850, Whitman began writing poems for what would become the now famous collection, Leaves of Grass. At first, he intended for the collection to be an American epic. He gave the first copies to his brother, George, which he didn’t like. Eventually, Whitman paid for Leaves of Grass to be published, and printed approximately 800 copies. When the collection was released, writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau praised the work. On the other hand, critics like geologist Peter Lesley insulted the book, calling Whitman a pretentious ass. As the book continued to circulate, Whitman drew more criticisms from the public in regards to the sexual themes. In fact, the publisher almost didn’t release the second edition of Leaves of Grass due to its content. However, the edition was released anyway.

When the American Civil War began, Whitman cheered on the North through his poem, Beat! Beat! Drums! During this time, George decided to join the Union army and sent a series of detailed letters to his brother. The letters, unsurprisingly, worried Whitman, so he searched for his brother and found him in the South, alongside other wounded soldiers. This inspired him to volunteer as a nurse for the army. Eventually, George was taken prisoner by the Confederates, and his other brother, Andrew Jackson, was committed to an asylum due to his alcoholism. As time passed, Whitman managed to secure employment at the Attorney General office, where he later drew attention because of his Leaves of Grass collection. He was even almost fired from the office, though many defended him, with one even claiming he was a wholesome patriot. He soon died in 1892 due to pneumonia. He was buried at the Harleigh Cemetery, where he was celebrated with live music, friends, and family. Robert Ingersoll even gave a eulogy.

Whitman left quite a legacy for Americans. From scholars debating his sexuality to his political affiliations, many have claimed Whitman to be America’s “poet of democracy.” Many were inspired by him, including the likes of Ezra Pound and Andrew Carnegie. Others, like Oscar Wilde, have even thought of Whitman as a prophet for a sort of utopia where same-sex relationships weren’t looked down upon. Whitman even managed to influence Bram Stoker, and was used as inspiration for Dracula himself. Whitman is a celebrated poet that managed to carve his name into history, celebrated by both activists and writers alike.