This Day in History — Poet
March 25, 1892 — Death of Walt Whitman
19th Century Writers Poet Poetry Writer
On March 25, 1892, Walt Whitman, the pioneering American poet and author of Leaves of Grass, died at 72. His revolutionary free verse and Civil War service as a volunteer nurse shaped a legacy of compassion, individuality, and democratic ideals that continues to influence literature and culture today.
March 5th, 1750 — First American Shakespeare Performance
On March 5th, 1750, New York City hosted the first known Shakespeare performance in the American colonies—an adapted staging of Richard III. Performed by the Murray-Kean Company, the play introduced colonial audiences to Shakespeare’s drama and helped lay the foundation for a lasting tradition of Shakespearean theater in America.
February 19th, 1963 - Robert Frost Wins Bollingen Prize in Poetry
19th Century Writers Author Poet Writer
On February 19th, we remember the legacy of Robert Frost, honored with the Bollingen Prize in Poetry in 1963. The award recognized a lifetime of verse that captured rural life, human choices, and quiet reflection. Frost’s enduring poems helped bring poetry into everyday American culture and continue inspiring readers today.