Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. - Essayists, Birthday and Childhood
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.'s Personal Details
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | August 29, 1809 |
| Died on | October 7, 1894 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Harvard University, Physicians, Writers, Novelists, Essayists |
| City/State | Massachusetts |
| Spouses | Amelia Jackson Holmes |
| Known as | Oliver Wendell Holmes, Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., Oliver W. Holmes |
| Childrens | Amelia Jackson Holmes and Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Edward Jackson Holmes |
| Universities |
|
| Notable Alumnis |
|
| Birth Place | Cambridge |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Abiel Holmes |
| Mother | Sarah Wendell |
| Sun Sign | Virgo |
| Born in | Cambridge |
| Famous as | Writer, Physician |
| Died at Age | 85 |
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Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.'s photo
Who is Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.?
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. was an American poet, author, physician, medical reformer, professor and lecturer. He is noted for his oratory and literary skills. The ‘Breakfast-Table’ series remained his most distinguished prose work that gained him international fame. He was a member of ‘Fireside Poets’ along with the likes of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and John Greenleaf Whittier among others. The writings of the American ‘Fireside Poets’ were considered conventional and family friendly and were among the first few to gain immense popularity in Europe. He was respected and acclaimed by his peers for his works and also earned international appreciation all his life. Based in Boston, he advocated the city’s culture and his writings often reflected a Boston-centric view. That is why many a times he is referred as ‘Boston Brahmin’. This term was originally coined by him to refer oldest and intellectual families of Boston. He considered Boston was ‘’ the thinking centre of the continent, and therefore of the planet”. He practiced as a physician and served as a professor of physiology and anatomy at the ‘Harvard University’. He was one of the founder-editors of the journal ‘Atlantic Monthly’. Apart from poetry he penned down novels, table-talk books, travelogues, biographies and medical treatises as well. He wrote on a wide range of subjects including theology, medicine, psychology, democracy and society.
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Childhood & Early Life
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. was born on August 29, 1809 in Cambridge, Massachusetts to Reverend Abiel Holmes and his second wife Sarah Wendell. His father an enthusiast in history was a minister of the ‘First Congressional Church’ and his mother was the daughter of a wealthy merchant.
Since childhood he suffered from asthma. He was considered a bright and talented boy. He used to visit his father’s library often and explored the writings of the likes of Oliver Goldsmith and John Dryden. He wrote his first poem at thirteen.
He was taught by William Bigelow and Dame Prentiss and was later enrolled in the ‘Port School” in Cambridgeport. His teachers often scolded him for reading stories at school.
At fifteen Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. was sent to ‘Phillips Academy’ in Andover in Massachusetts by his father who wanted Holmes to follow his footsteps. The academy was renowned for its traditional Calvinist teachings but Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. did not want to be a theologian and thus did not savour the year he spent at the academy.
At sixteen he joined the ‘Harvard College’ and completed his graduation in 1829.
He served as Secretary and Poet at the ‘Hasty Pudding’ and was also elected to the ‘Phi Beta Kappa’ honour society.
After graduating, he studied at the ‘Harvard Law College’ for a short while but later decided to pursue medicine and went to ‘Boston Medical College’.
In 1833 he went to Paris and studied in renowned medical schools for a while. He was among the first Americans who received training of the new ‘’clinical’’ procedure at the ‘École de Médecine’.
He went back to Harvard and completed MD from ‘Harvard Medical School’ in 1836. He was among twenty students who received ‘Deturs’ a scholastic honour when he was in the second year.
Career
In 1830, he penned down many poems of which he gave twenty five to ‘The Collegian’ a publication formed by his Harvard friends. Four of these were counted among his best writings. His other poem ‘The Last Leaf’ was considered as one of his finest works. Abraham Lincoln was all praise about the poem.
His two essays under the title ‘The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table’ were published by the ‘New England Magazine’ in November 1831 and in February 1832 detailing life as observed from his boarding’s breakfast table. The two essays came out to be one of his most finest and popular works.
Post his graduation he joined ‘Boston Medical Society’, ‘Boston Society for Medical Improvement’ and ‘Massachusetts Medical Society’.
In 1837, he won the ‘Boylston Prize’ from the ‘Harvard Medical School’ after placing a paper on the benefits of stethoscope. Thereafter, he joined the ‘Boston Dispensary’. He and his peers set up the ‘Tremont Medical School’ in Boston which was afterwards merged with the ‘Harvard Medical School’.
In 1838, he became a Fellow of the ‘American Academy of Arts and Sciences’.
From 1838 to 1840 he remained a professor of ‘Dartmouth Medical School’ and taught physiology and anatomy.
In 1842, his essay ‘Homeopathy and Its Kindred Delusions’ condemning the subject was published.
He created the term ‘anaesthesia’ in 1846 and suggested it to dentist William T. G. Morton who for the first time would apply ether publicly while conducting surgery.
From 1847 to 1853 he remained the dean of ‘Harvard Medical College’ and also served as a professor of anatomy and physiology till 1882.
He regularly contributed to ‘The Atlantic Monthly’. His two essays in the series ‘The Autocrat at the Breakfast-Table’ that he re-produced for the magazine were appreciated by both readers and critics resulting in a sale of 10,000 copies of the magazine in just three days.
In 1860, he invented a hand stereoscope where pictures can be viewed in 3-D form but did not patent it to garner profit.
In 1884, he toured Europe with his daughter Amelia and met several renowned writers. He was awarded honorary doctorates by Cambridge, Oxford and Edinburgh Universities.
Yale University awarded him an honorary degree in 1886.
Some of his other writings include ‘The Professor at the Breakfast-Table’ (1860), ‘Elsie Venner’ (1861), and ‘Mechanism in Thought and Morals’ (1871) and ‘The Poet at the Breakfast-Table’ (1872)
Major Works
He wrote a patriotic poem, ‘Old Ironsides’ which was published in the ‘Boston Daily Advertiser’ on September 16, 1830 opposing the dismantling and scrapping of the 18th century old Navy frigate ‘USS Constitution’. The poem garnered national attention and brought him praise resulting in preserving of the historic ship.
His essay ‘The Contagiousness of puerperal fever’ published in 1843 and re-published in 1855 as ‘Puerperal Fever as a Private Pestilence’ was considered one of his remarkable and revolutionary contributions to medical science and its practices.
Personal Life & Legacy
On June 15, 1840 he married Amelia Lee Jackson who was the daughter of Justice Charles Jackson at King’s Chapel in Boston. The couple had three children - Amelia Lee Jackson, Edward Jackson Holmes and Oliver Wendell Holmes who was an officer of Civil War and an American jurist. His wife died on February 6, 1888.
He died on October 7, 1894 while in sleep. He was buried in the ‘Mount Auburn Cemetery’ in Cambridge, Massachusetts beside his wife.
Trivia
He was often requested to write poems commemorating special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries.
The library of the Phillips Academy where he studied was named after him as ‘Oliver Wendell Holmes Library’. A special section of the library is dedicated for songs, poems, essays and medical papers collected from his personal library.
In 1915, the locals of Boston built a memorial seat and placed a sundial near his last house in such a position which is visible from his library.
A memorial tablet inscribed with his achievements was built at the King’s Chapel, Boston, as a mark of honour.
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Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. biography timelines
- // 29th Aug 1809Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. was born on August 29, 1809 in Cambridge, Massachusetts to Reverend Abiel Holmes and his second wife Sarah Wendell. His father an enthusiast in history was a minister of the ‘First Congressional Church’ and his mother was the daughter of a wealthy merchant.
- // 1829At sixteen he joined the ‘Harvard College’ and completed his graduation in 1829.
- // 1830In 1830, he penned down many poems of which he gave twenty five to ‘The Collegian’ a publication formed by his Harvard friends. Four of these were counted among his best writings. His other poem ‘The Last Leaf’ was considered as one of his finest works. Abraham Lincoln was all praise about the poem.
- // 16th Sep 1830He wrote a patriotic poem, ‘Old Ironsides’ which was published in the ‘Boston Daily Advertiser’ on September 16, 1830 opposing the dismantling and scrapping of the 18th century old Navy frigate ‘USS Constitution’. The poem garnered national attention and brought him praise resulting in preserving of the historic ship.
- // Nov 1831 To Feb 1832His two essays under the title ‘The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table’ were published by the ‘New England Magazine’ in November 1831 and in February 1832 detailing life as observed from his boarding’s breakfast table. The two essays came out to be one of his most finest and popular works.
- // 1833In 1833 he went to Paris and studied in renowned medical schools for a while. He was among the first Americans who received training of the new ‘’clinical’’ procedure at the ‘École de Médecine’.
- // 1836He went back to Harvard and completed MD from ‘Harvard Medical School’ in 1836. He was among twenty students who received ‘Deturs’ a scholastic honour when he was in the second year.
- // 1837In 1837, he won the ‘Boylston Prize’ from the ‘Harvard Medical School’ after placing a paper on the benefits of stethoscope. Thereafter, he joined the ‘Boston Dispensary’. He and his peers set up the ‘Tremont Medical School’ in Boston which was afterwards merged with the ‘Harvard Medical School’.
- // 1838In 1838, he became a Fellow of the ‘American Academy of Arts and Sciences’.
- // 1838 To 1840From 1838 to 1840 he remained a professor of ‘Dartmouth Medical School’ and taught physiology and anatomy.
- // 15th Jun 1840 To 6th Feb 1888On June 15, 1840 he married Amelia Lee Jackson who was the daughter of Justice Charles Jackson at King’s Chapel in Boston. The couple had three children - Amelia Lee Jackson, Edward Jackson Holmes and Oliver Wendell Holmes who was an officer of Civil War and an American jurist. His wife died on February 6, 1888.
- // 1842In 1842, his essay ‘Homeopathy and Its Kindred Delusions’ condemning the subject was published.
- // 1843 To 1855His essay ‘The Contagiousness of puerperal fever’ published in 1843 and re-published in 1855 as ‘Puerperal Fever as a Private Pestilence’ was considered one of his remarkable and revolutionary contributions to medical science and its practices.
- // 1846He created the term ‘anaesthesia’ in 1846 and suggested it to dentist William T. G. Morton who for the first time would apply ether publicly while conducting surgery.
- // 1847 To 1853From 1847 to 1853 he remained the dean of ‘Harvard Medical College’ and also served as a professor of anatomy and physiology till 1882.
- // 1860In 1860, he invented a hand stereoscope where pictures can be viewed in 3-D form but did not patent it to garner profit.
- // 1884In 1884, he toured Europe with his daughter Amelia and met several renowned writers. He was awarded honorary doctorates by Cambridge, Oxford and Edinburgh Universities.
- // 1886Yale University awarded him an honorary degree in 1886.
- // 7th Oct 1894He died on October 7, 1894 while in sleep. He was buried in the ‘Mount Auburn Cemetery’ in Cambridge, Massachusetts beside his wife.
- // 1915In 1915, the locals of Boston built a memorial seat and placed a sundial near his last house in such a position which is visible from his library.
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Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.'s FAQ
What is Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. birthday?
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. was born at 1809-08-29
When was Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. died?
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. was died at 1894-10-07
Where was Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. died?
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. was died in Boston
Which age was Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. died?
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. was died at age 85
Where is Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.'s birth place?
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. was born in Cambridge
What is Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. nationalities?
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.'s nationalities is American
Who is Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. spouses?
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.'s spouses is Amelia Jackson Holmes
Who is Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. childrens?
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.'s childrens is Amelia Jackson Holmes and Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Edward Jackson Holmes
What was Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. universities?
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. studied at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, Phillips Academy, Harvard University
What was Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. notable alumnis?
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.'s notable alumnis is Harvard University
Who is Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.'s father?
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.'s father is Abiel Holmes
Who is Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.'s mother?
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.'s mother is Sarah Wendell
What is Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.'s sun sign?
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. is Virgo
How famous is Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.?
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. is famouse as Writer, Physician