1. Walt Whitman
May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892

2. Early Life 2nd son of 9 kids Father, a house builder
Lived in Brooklyn and Long Island
At age 12, started learning the printing trade
A great fire eliminated the factories and his job
At age 17, started teaching in a one-room school house

3. Adult Life Quit teaching in favor of Journalism
Eventually left New York to become an editor in New Orleans
Helped war victims in WWII at medical clinics across the east coast
Spent his own money from writing royalties to buy supplies for the sick
Suffered a stroke
Designed his own grave/burial sight

4. His Writing Mostly Self-Taught Self-Published (Leaves of Grass)
Sent most of his work to Ralph Waldo Emerson
While living in New Orleans, saw first hand the horrible life of a slave, he returned to New York and wrote about his experiences
Made very little money
Other writers in Europe would send him money to get by
Sent most of his money to his mother and disabled brother
Spent the rest on medical supplies

5. Beat Beat Drums Beat

6. To A President

7. O Captain My Captain

8. Poets to Come

9. O Me! O Life! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAU5PJI_vH8

10. I Hear America Singing