Emerson Facts

1) Ralph Waldo Emerson was born in Boston.
2) Emerson's father was a Unitarian minister whose parents had been clergymen back in the Puritanical days.
3) Emerson's father died early in his life, leaving his mother, his four siblings, and himself in poverty.

source: http://eolit.hrw.com/hlla/authorbios/index2.jsp?author=11ralphwaldoemerson&WebLogicSession=QmmHlrTSl91ICx1IXsskC6NwH2mdJTrwvgNG6k9ZKEKVf8DrEMj7|-502370712525240

4) Ralph became a Unitarian minister like his father, but resigned in 1832 to travel Europe.
5) Emerson lectured on philosophy in the United States while forming a transcendentalist group with many poets, writers, and fellow philosophers as members.
6) In 1842, Emerson became editor for The Dial, a newspaper which helped spur the transcendentalist movement on.
7)In 1855, Emerson received some poetry, "Leaves of Grass", from Walt Whitman, and wrote an encouraging letter to the poet.
8) Later in life, Emerson met with Whitman and the two became friends.

source: http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/emerson/

9) Emerson was known among his circle of friends as the Sage of Concord.
10) Emerson advocated women's rights and the abolition of slavery.

source: http://encarta.msn.com/media_461577235_761560644_-1_1/ralph_waldo_emerson_quick_facts.html