Walt Whitman timeline

Walt Whitman is Born

Walt Whitman, American poet, journalist, and essayist, was born on May 31, 1819, in West Hills, New York. His verse collection Leaves of Grass is... Read more

The First Edition of Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" Is Published

When Walt Whitman published his first edition of Leaves of Grass on or around the fourth day of July in 1855, he believed he was embarking on a... Read more

Walt Whitman Publishes "Beat! Beat! Drums!" During The Civil War

As the American Civil War was beginning, Whitman published his poem "Beat! Beat! Drums!" as a patriotic rally call for the North. Whitman's brother... Read more

Walt Whitman Publishes "O Captain! My Captain!"

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still; My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will; The ship is... Read more

Walt Whitman Corrects His Poem "Oh Captain, My Captain"

On February 9, 1888, Walt Whitman penned a note to the publishers of The Riverside Literature Series No. 32 calling attention to mistakes in their... Read more