Walt Whitman

1819 (Long Island, N.Y.) – 1892 (Camden, N.J.)

Whitman and Emerson met over 25 years yet rarely seemed to get beyond grudging respect for each other. Stoker corresponded at length with Whitman, and visited him when professional duties took him to America; Tennyson and Symonds sent Whitman affectionate letters. Eakins painted and photographed him, while Whitmano himself wrote about being photographed by Brady. Howells met him at a literary saloon-bar, Thoreau visited his house with Alcott, and Wilde drank elderberry wine and milk punch with him.