One of Americas most influential thinkers and authors was Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ralph Waldo Emerson was born in Boston on May 25, 1803. Emerson's dad died when he was only eight, which forced his mom to take in boarders to support the family's needs. When Emerson was only 14, he entered Harvard, where he ran became a sort of secretary for the president of the university. When he graduated Harvard, at age 18, he became a teacher. When he …showed first 75 words of 359 total…

…showed last 75 words of 359 total…Although Emerson wrote many famous works, his main source of income was being a public speaker. Among the places Emerson spoke were lyceums, and universities. Although Emerson mainly spoke at lyceums, most of his famous speeches, were the ones he gave while lecturing at universities. Emerson's best known essays are: "The Over-Soul," "Compensation," and "Self-Reliance." Emerson died on April 27, 1882, as a result of a small illness, he was buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Word Count: 364