Edwin Markham

Date of Birth: April 23, 1852

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: March 7, 1940

Biography

Charles Edwin Anson Markham, better known as Edwin Markham, was an American poet born on April 23, 1852, in Oregon City, Oregon, United States. He gained prominence for his poetry that often reflected themes of social justice, compassion, and the plight of the working class. Markham is perhaps best known for his poem “The Man with the Hoe,” which was inspired by Jean-François Millet’s painting of the same name; the poem brought him national recognition when it was published in 1899. Markham’s early life was marked by hardship; his father abandoned the family when he was young, leaving his mother to raise him and his siblings alone on a farm. Despite these challenges, Markham pursued his education fervently, attending various institutions including California College in Vacaville and San Jose State Normal School, now San Jose State University. Throughout his career, Markham published several collections of poetry, including “The Man with the Hoe and Other Poems” (1899), “Lincoln and Other Poems” (1901), and “The Shoes of Happiness and Other Poems” (1913). He was an active lecturer and a well-known figure in literary circles, contributing to various magazines and anthologies. Markham married three times, with his final marriage to Anna Catherine Murphy producing a son named Virgil. He continued to write and advocate for social causes until his death on March 7, 1940, in Staten Island, New York.

5 Interesting Facts about Edwin Markham

1. Edwin Markham’s poem “The Man with the Hoe” was inspired by a painting by Jean-François Millet and became a national sensation upon its publication.

2. Markham was a fervent advocate for social justice and often used his poetry to highlight the struggles of the working class.

3. He was involved in the formation of the Poetry Society of America and served as its president.

4. Markham was a popular lecturer and often traveled across the country to speak on literary and social topics.

5. His works were so influential that he was often referred to as the “Poet Laureate of Labor.”

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Edwin Markham

1. “Bowed by the weight of centuries he leans / Upon his hoe and gazes on the ground, / The emptiness of ages in his face, / And on his back the burden of the world.”

2. “Defeat may serve as well as victory / To shake the soul and let the glory out.”

3. “For all your days prepare, / And meet them ever alike: / When you are the anvil, bear— / When you are the hammer, strike.”

4. “We are all blind until we see / That in the human plan / Nothing is worth the making if / It does not make the man.”

5. “To throw oneself into the drift of the world, / To heed the call and the cry of the world, / To make the world better and sweeter for having lived in it.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Edwin Markham was not known for amassing significant wealth during his lifetime. His highest net worth is not well-documented, but he lived comfortably through his earnings as a poet, lecturer, and educator.