Biography of Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau: An American Non-Conformist

Could you survive living in the woods by yourself for twenty two months? Would you be willing to go to jail to protest something you truly believed in? Henry David Thoreau did both of these things in his short life. Thoreau was a carpenter, ecologist, writer and philosopher. He was never famous in his lifetime, and actually many of his peers thought some of his ideas and actions were crazy, but we now look back on Thoreau as one of the first great American non-conformist, an inspiration to us all to stand up for what we believe in.

Thoreau was born in Concord, MA on July 12, 1817. As it outlined in Encyclopedia of World Biography, his parents were poor, but he attended Concord Academy because of his intelligence and good grades. He later entered Harvard in 1833 on a scholarship and quickly earned a reputation as an independent thinker. He graduated in 1837 with a degree in languages and began a teaching career that would not last long. (“Henry David Thoreau” 1). Thoreau’s true passion was writing, whether it be poetry, journals, editorials or essays. He quit teaching and worked odd jobs as a carpenter to survive. He also later became a surveyor of land. This job he particularly liked because it gave him time to write and allowed him to be out in nature, which was his greatest inspiration. He loved everything about nature and became somewhat of an expert on local plants and wildlife. Though he is best known for his philosophical writing, most of his writing is classified as nature writing. Three books published after his death, which are a great example of travel and nature writing, are The Maine Woods, Cape Cod, and A Yankee in Canada.

Besides nature, another inspiration for Thoreau’s was one of his neighbors in Concord, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson was Thoreau’s mentor and best friend. Emerson saw great potential in Thoreau and invited him to work as a tutor for his children and handy man at his house. He gave him the guest quarters so he would have a place to write. Emerson was part of a group of philosophers called transcendentalists. They believed that people are all connected and should be treated equally and that people should follow their intuition rather than the dictates of society when making important decisions. Thoreau quickly became a member of this group of philosophers.

Emerson continuously supported Thoreau, even when he decided to take on an unusual experiment. For twenty two months, Thoreau lived in a small cabin that he built near Walden Pond, which was actually land owned by Emerson. He stated he went to the woods alone because he, “…wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived” (Thoreau 66). Thoreau recorded his learning in his now famous book Walden.

Walden is kind of a guide to life, and in the book Thoreau presents key ideas about how all Americans should live. In the chapter entitled “Conclusion,” Thoreau encourages people to walk to the beat of their own drummer and not let our lives fall into the familiar pattern of our neighbors. He tells us to simplify our lives and relish in the small details of living, especially nature. He also challenges everyone to be honest at all times, not only with themselves, but others as well (Thoreau 216–217).

Another, more controversial piece of writing from Thoreau came in 1849 in the form of an essay entitled “On Civil Disobedience.” In this essay Thoreau rails against the American government for two main issues: slavery and the Mexican war. Thoreau was an avid abolitionist and supported other famous abolitionists of the time, like John Brown. Thoreau believed that, if we Americans disagree with a policy of our government, it isn’t just our right but our duty to protest, even if that means going to jail. He wrote:

“I know this well, that if one thousand, if one hundred, if ten men whom I could name – if ten honest men only – aye, if one HONEST man, in this State of Massachusetts, ceasing to hold slaves, were actually to withdraw from this copartnership, and be locked up in the county jail; therefore, it would be the abolition of slavery in America. For it matters not how small the beginning may seem to be: what is once well done is done for ever…Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison” (Thoreau 230)

Thoreau put his money where his mouth was, so to speak, and did not pay his taxes for seven years to protest slavery and the Mexican War. He figured if the government would use his tax money to put down slave uprisings or send soldiers to fight, he would not give them his money. As a result he went to jail for one night, because his aunt paid his fine and had him released.

Thoreau became ill with Tuberculosis, a disease of the lungs, when he was in his late thirties. His health slowly declined over the next few years and he wrote less and less. He died what, by all accounts, was a peaceful death on May 6, 1862; he was only fifty four years old.

Thoreau’s ideas have influenced many people throughout America and the world in the over 150 years since his death. The simple advice he offered in Walden, though written in the 1840’s, is still great advice today, and many quotes from that book are used in advertisements and are favorites on quotes sites. Of all of his works, however, “On Civil Disobedience” probably had the most lasting impact. As was stated in the article “Henry David Thoreau and ‘Civil Disobedience,’” several leaders on the 20th century, including Mahatma Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr., used his ideas to lead protests. Ghandi led Indians to peacefully and non-violently protest British rule in the early 1900’s. Martin Luther King Jr. led African Americans in non-violent marches, sit-ins and boycotts to earn the right to vote and end segregation in the 1950’s and 60’s. Both of these great men, like Thoreau, were arrested and jailed for their protests, but ultimately achieved their goals (1).

Today Walden Pond is a nature preserve and museum where people can visit, feel some of the peacefulness Thoreau felt in nature, and learn about this amazing man. Thoreau is and should always remain an inspiration to anyone who wants to live a different life. He challenges us all to stand up for what we believe in, no matter the consequences. He saw in Americans a race of men who could hopefully one day create a more equal and accepting society. We have only begun to live up to his words and ideas.

Works Cited
“Henry David Thoreau.” Encyclopedia of World Biography. Vol. 15. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 203-205. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. WAUKESHA SOUTH HS – iQ Academies at WI. 31 Mar. 2009 .

“Henry David Thoreau and ‘Civil Disobedience’.” Inside American History. Abingdon/Cambridge: Helicon, 2007. History Study Center. ProQuest LLC. 31 Mar. 2009 .

Thoreau, Henry David. Walden and Civil Disobedience. New York, NY: Penguin Books Inc, 1980.

Cited: “Henry David Thoreau.” Encyclopedia of World Biography. Vol. 15. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 203-205. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. WAUKESHA SOUTH HS – iQ Academies at WI. 31 Mar. 2009 . “Henry David Thoreau and ‘Civil Disobedience’.” Inside American History. Abingdon/Cambridge: Helicon, 2007. History Study Center. ProQuest LLC. 31 Mar. 2009 . Thoreau, Henry David. Walden and Civil Disobedience. New York, NY: Penguin Books Inc, 1980.