Image of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Timeline

Lifetime: 1809 - 1894 Passed: ≈ 130 years ago

Title

Poet, Physician

Country/Nationality

United States
Wikipedia

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (August 29, 1809 – October 7, 1894) was an American physician, poet, and polymath based in Boston. Grouped among the fireside poets, he was acclaimed by his peers as one of the best writers of the day. His most famous prose works are the "Breakfast-Table" series, which began with The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table (1858). He was also an important medical reformer.

Early life and education

Holmes was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Abiel Holmes, a clergyman and historian, and Sarah Wendell Holmes. He attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, and then Harvard University, where he graduated in 1829. He studied medicine at Harvard Medical School, graduating in 1836.

Medical career

After graduating from medical school, Holmes practiced medicine in Boston for several years. He was a gifted diagnostician and a pioneer in the use of ether anesthesia. He also wrote extensively on medical topics, including the contagiousness of puerperal fever.

Literary career

Holmes's literary career began in the 1830s, when he began publishing poems and essays in magazines. He was a prolific writer, and his works ranged from poetry and essays to novels and medical treatises. His most famous prose works are the "Breakfast-Table" series, which began with The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table (1858). These essays are a collection of conversations between Holmes and a group of fictional characters. They are witty, insightful, and often philosophical.

Philosophy

Holmes's philosophy was a blend of pragmatism and idealism. He believed that the world was constantly changing, and that truth was relative. However, he also believed that there were some universal truths, such as the importance of love, compassion, and justice.

Death and legacy

Holmes died in Boston in 1894. He is remembered as one of the most important figures in American literature and medicine. His works are still read and enjoyed today.

Interesting facts

  • Holmes was a close friend of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
  • He was a vocal critic of slavery and the Mexican-American War.
  • He was the father of Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., a Supreme Court justice.
  • He was a member of the Metaphysical Club, a group of philosophers and scientists who met in Boston in the 1830s.


Books by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Elsie Venner Cover image

Elsie Venner

Novel
Young Nature Power of Nature Evil Struggle Classics Women American Literature

What if a young woman was born with the intelligence of a genius, but the instincts of a wild animal? In Elsie Venner, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. explores this fascinating and disturbing question. Elsie is a young woman who was bitten by a rattlesna...

The Ballad of the Oysterman Cover image

The Ballad of the Oysterman

Poetry
Love Young Redemption Poems Loss Classics Fortnightly

"A tall young oysterman lived by the river-side, His shop was just upon the bank, his boat was on the tide; The daughter of a fisherman, that was so straight and slim, Lived over on the other bank, right opposite to him." The Ballad of the Oysterma...

The Island Hunting-Song Cover image

The Island Hunting-Song

Poetry
Poems Friendship Island Journey Life Verses Fortnightly Joys

Imagine a summer day filled with golden wine, a glowing flame, and a lonely isle. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.'s poem The Island Hunting-Song is a beautiful and evocative ode to the joys of summer and the beauty of the natural world. The poem is writt...

One-Hoss Shay Cover image

One-Hoss Shay

Poetry Humour Children's Literature
Economic Race Technology Logic Poetry Horse Humor Carriage Whimsical Poem Halloween Electric tram Depreciation

This collection of poems by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., is a blend of whimsical and thought-provoking verse. In "The Deacon's Masterpiece", the renowned physician explores the concept of building an object without any weaknesses, using a two-wheeled...

Departed Days Cover image

Departed Days

Poetry Non-Fiction Essays
19th century Satire Culture Reflection Society Life Medical Poetry American Literature Humor Harvard Boston Fireside Poets

“Departed Days” is a collection of essays and poems by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., a prominent American physician, writer, and member of the Fireside Poets. Published in 1863, the work reflects on Holmes's personal experiences, observations on societ...

To a Blank Sheet of Paper Cover image

To a Blank Sheet of Paper

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. was an American physician, poet, and polymath based in Boston. A member of the Fireside Poets, he was acclaimed by his peers as one of the best writers of the day. His most famous prose works are the "Breakfast-Table" series...