James Russell Lowell (February 22, 1819 – August 12, 1891) was an American Romantic poet, critic, editor, and diplomat. He was the first editor of The Atlantic Monthly and was one of the Fireside Poets, a group of New England writers who wrote poetry suitable for families entertaining at their firesides, with conventional forms and meters. His first collection of poetry was published in 1841. He was involved in the movement to abolish slavery, using poetry to express his anti-slavery views. In 1848 he gained notoriety with the publication of A Fable for Critics, a book-length poem satirizing contemporary critics and poets. The same year, he published The Biglow Papers, in which he tried to emulate the true Yankee accent in the dialogue of his characters. This depiction of the dialect and his satires were an inspiration to writers like Mark Twain and H. L. Mencken. Lowell went on to publish several other poetry and essay collections, and in later years was ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain and the Court of St James's.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Russell_Lowell

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1371:

Robert II became King of Scots as the first monarch of the House of Stuart. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_II_of_Scotland

1876:

Swedish woman Karolina Olsson went to sleep and purportedly fell into a state of hibernation for the next 32 years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karolina_Olsson

1921:

After Russian forces under Baron Roman von Ungern-Sternberg drove the Chinese out of Mongolia, the Bogd Khan was reinstalled as emperor. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_von_Ungern-Sternberg

1997:

Scientists at the Roslin Institute in Scotland announced the birth of Dolly, the first mammal to have been successfully cloned from an adult cell. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_(sheep)

2011:

A 6.5 ML earthquake struck Christchurch, New Zealand, killing 185 people and causing around NZ$40 billion damage. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Christchurch_earthquake

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

bedraggled: 1. Wet and limp; unkempt. 2. Decaying, decrepit or dilapidated. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bedraggled

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

If Men are to be precluded from offering their sentiments on a matter, which may involve the most serious and alarming consequences, that can invite the consideration of Mankind; reason is of no use to us — the freedom of Speech may be taken away — and, dumb & silent we may be led, like sheep, to the Slaughter.   --George Washington https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_Washington