William Cullen Bryant Memorial - New York, NY - Dead Poets' Society Memorials on Waymarking.com

William Cullen Bryant was born on November 3, 1794 in Cummington, MA. He is considered by many to be America's first poet to gain worldwide recognition. Encouraged by his father, he developed an interest in poetry at an early age. "The Embargo", a poem expressing his Federalist political views, was published in 1808.

He attended Williams College but soon decided to study law. He was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1815. During this time he began work on his most famous poem - "Thanatopsis", parts of which were first published in the North American Review in 1817. This established his reputation as a poet. In 1821, he published the widely read poem "To a Waterfowl". His next major work was "The Ages", an overview of the history of civilization leading to the formation of the United States, entirely in verse.

From 1816 to 1825 Bryant practiced law in Great Barrington, MA. In 1825, He moved to New York City to become editor of the New York Review, the United States Review, and Literary Gazette. Ultimately he gained his greatest fame and fortune with the New York Evening Post. He began as a n assistant editor. Two years later he was named Editor-in-Chief and became a part owner. He was Editor-in-Chief from 1828 to 1878. A staunch abolitionist, he was an early supporter of Abraham Lincoln,

Later in his life he wrote blank verse translation of the works of Homer, the Iliad and The Odyssey. He died in 1878 after suffering an accidental fall.

At the eastern end of Bryant Park a 6' by 5' by 5' bronze statue of William Cullen Bryant is shown seated above an 8' by 6' by 6' stone pedestal and under a marble canopy. The bearded Bryant is sitting in an armchair and looking straight ahead. His right arm is placed on the armrest and he is holding a newspaper on his lap with his left hand. A blanket, on his lap, reaches from his waist to his shoes. A series of three steps leads up to the multi-tiered pedestal. Two Doric column and two large urns flank the steps and the canopy.

William Cullen Bryant Memorial is situated behind the magnificent, Beaux Arts, New York Public Library building. The statue was created by Herbert Adams, sculptor, and cast at the Gorham Manufacturing Company foundry. Thomas Hastings and the firm of Carrere & Hastings were the architects for the memorial. The statue was installed in 1911. The front of the pedestal is inscribed with lines from his poem "The Poet":