Author; born in
Cambridge, Mass., Aug. 29, 1809; son of
Abiel Holmes; graduated at Harvard College in 1829; began the study of law, but soon abandoned it for the study of medicine; and in 1822 went to
Europe, and studied in the hospitals of
Paris and other large cities.
In 1838
Dr. Holmes was appointed
Professor of Anatomy and Physiology in Dartmouth College; and in 1847 he was given the same chair in
Harvard, which he filled till 1883.
He began his brilliant literary career in early life as a poet and essayist, and sustained the bright promise of his youth.
His poems are often strongly marked with the most
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delicate humor, and he ranks high as a poet at home and abroad.
His books, and his contributions to newspaper and
magazine literature, are numerous and highly esteemed.
He died in
Boston, Oct. 7, 1894.