Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) American novelist and short story writer, most famous for his novel The Scarlet Letter

He was born at Salem, Mass., on July 4th, 1804, son of a sea captain. He led there a shy and rather over protected life; yet not wholly uncongenial to his artistic development. Hawthorne turned to writing after his graduation from Bowdoin College. He wrote several successful short stories which were collected in Twice-Told Tales (1837).

Insufficient earnings as a writer forced Hawthorne to take a job in the Salem Custom House. By 1842, he was able to earn enough to marry Sophia Peabody and move to Concord, which was then the center of the Transcendental movement.

Hawthorne returned to Salem in 1845 and in 1850, his most famous novel, The Scarlet Letter was published. His next novel was The House of the Seven Gables(1851) He also wrote two classic works for children A Wonder Book (1852) and Tanglewood Tales (1853) He wrote another novel The Marble Faun in 1860 and an account of a journey to England Our Old Home in 1863.

Nathaniel Hawthorne died at Plymouth, New Hampshire, on May 18th, 1864.