BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THOREAU 



BY RALPH WALDO EMERSON. 



HENRY DAVID THOREAU was the last male de 

 scendant of a French ancestor who came to this coun 

 try from the Isle of Guernsey. His character exhibited 

 occasional traits drawn from this blood, in singular 

 combination with a very strong Saxon genius. 



He was born in Concord, Massachusetts, on theJL2th 

 ofjJuly, 1817. He was graduated at Harvard College 

 in 1837, but without any literary distinction. An icon 

 oclast in literature, he seldom thanked colleges for 

 their service to him, holding them in small esteem, 

 whilst yet his debt to them was important. After 

 leaving the University, he joined his brother in teach 

 ing a private school, which he soon renounced. His 

 father was a manufacturer of lead-pencils, and Henry 

 applied himself for a time to this craft, believing he 

 could make a better pencil than was then in use.; 

 After completing his experiments, he exhibited his 

 work to chemists and artists in Boston, and having 

 obtained their certificates to its excellence and to its 

 equality with the best London manufacture, he re 

 turned home contented. His friends congratulated 

 him that he had now opened his way to fortune, 

 But he replied, that he should never make another 

 pencil. &quot; Why should I ? I would not do again 



