William Cullen Bryant

William Cullen Bryant (1794–1878) was an American poet, journalist, and influential newspaper editor. Born in Cummington, Massachusetts, he gained early fame for the meditative poem “Thanatopsis,” first published in 1817, and later wrote the widely admired lyric “To a Waterfowl.” Bryant moved to New York City and became associated with the New-York Evening Post, serving as its editor for many years and helping shape public opinion through political commentary and cultural criticism. He also produced travel writing and translations, and his poetry—often marked by moral reflection and close attention to nature—made him a leading voice in early American literature.