Henry Timrod
Henry Timrod (1828-1867) was an American poet, often referred to as the "Poet Laureate of the Confederacy." Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Timrod was the son of a bookbinder of German descent. He attended the University of Georgia but left due to illness. Despite his frail health, he pursued a career in law and teaching, but his true passion lay in writing poetry. His early work was marked by romantic themes and a deep appreciation for the Southern landscape.
When the Civil War erupted, Timrod's poetry took a patriotic turn. His works resonated with the Southern cause, capturing the emotional and ideological fervor of the Confederacy. Poems like “Ethnogenesis” and “The Cotton Boll” earned him acclaim throughout the South. In 1862, he joined the Confederate army but was soon released due to his health. He then worked as a war correspondent and continued to write poems supporting the Confederate cause.
After the war, Timrod moved to Columbia, South Carolina, where he faced dire poverty. His final years were marked by deteriorating health and the struggle for financial stability. He died of tuberculosis at the age of 38. Despite his short life, Henry Timrod left an indelible mark on American literature, remembered for his lyrical and impassioned contributions to Civil War-era poetry.