Bryant, William Cullen. American poet and historian. Born in 1794. When about nineteen he published his poem, "Thanatopsis," which attracted much attention; in 1825 he became editor of several periodicals in New York. Having several times visited Europe, he wrote his "Letters of a Traveler in Europe and America." For more than thirty years he acted as editor of the "New York Evening Post," and wrote much poetry, as well as many other prose works. Died 1878.

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