Emily Dickinson
Born December 10, 1830-Died May 15, 1886
Childhood
Family
Her paternal grandfather founded Amherst College. Her father Edward Dickinson was a lawyer, treasurer of Amherst College, a Massachusetts state representative, a senator, a member of the governor’s cabinet and a U.S. Congressman. According to Emily’s journals and letters it seems that her mother, Emily Norcross Dickinson, had an aloof personality and may have suffered from depression. Emily Dickinson had two siblings, an older brother named William Austin Dickinson and a younger sister named Lavinia Norcross Dickinson.
Emily Dickinson's Parents
Edward Dickinson and Emily Norcross Dickinson
Adult life
Her father died in 1874 from a stroke. But during his funeral she stayed in her room. Her mother died eight years later, 1882. In 1883 her favorite nephew Gilbert died. And in 1884 her friend Judge Lord died as well.
Career: Poetry
Death
May 15, 1886 Amherst, Ma; age fifty-five. Emily Dickinson’s death certificate says that she died from Bright’s disease, recent research says that her symptoms and medication indicates that she may have had severe primary hypertension (high blood pressure), that could have led to heart or a brain hemorrhage. Emily Dickinson was buried in West Cemetery, located in the middle of Amherst.
Her grave stone read
“Emily Dickinson
Born Dec, 10, 1830
Called Back
May 15 1886”
After Death
Lavinia Norcross Dickinson, Emily Dickinson’s sister, discovered her sister’s poems shortly after her death and thought that her sisters poems should be published. At first she tried to publish it with Susan, her sister-in-law, but Lavinia thought that Susan didn’t publish it fast enough; so she decided to turn to Mabel Loomis Todd; an Amherst College professor’s young wife to help her publish Emily Dickinson’s work.
Quote
“A word is dead when it is said, some say. I say it just begins to live that day.”
Extra Information
Poetry
If she wasn't writing poetry she was sleeping or eating