Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau was an American author, philosopher, naturalist and conservationist. He was born into a Unitarian family in Concord, Massachusetts on July 12, 1817, and is best known for his writing, especially the two books he wrote: Walden and Civil Disobedience. Throughout his life, Thoreau was an advocate for nature, simplicity and self-reliance. He was deeply influenced by the Transcendentalist movement, which focused on the divine in nature and the individual, and his works are still highly regarded today.

Thoreau was educated at Harvard, where he wrote his first book, "A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers”, a book about his travels on the two rivers near Concord, Massachusetts. He then moved to the Walden Pond area, near Concord, and began writing his most famous work, Walden. Written between 1845-47, Walden is a reflection on Thoreau’s two-year experiment of simple living, where he isolated himself from society, in a hut he built himself, in order to purify himself. He hoped to gain insight into the essential quality of life, and get closer to nature. Through Walden, he promoted his philosophy of life, advocating for practical methods of social reform and revolt against the state.

In 1848, Thoreau published an essay called Civil Disobedience, which rejected the idea of total submission to government and instead advocated for peaceful resistance against unjust laws. This essay became one of the most influential texts in the development of modern civil disobedience, and is even regarded as a foundation of nonviolent resistance movements. His beliefs in civil disobedience also drew attention to his passionate advocacy of abolitionism and opposition to the Mexican War. Thoreau was arrested in 1846 for omission of taxes to protest against the war, and his night in jail was the basis of his essay, On the Duty of Civil Disobedience.

Throughout the rest of his life, Thoreau traveled and wrote extensively, and through his works, gave readers a unique insight into his innermost thoughts. His dedication to living simply and peacefully, as well as his writings which still inspire modern-day activists, make Henry David Thoreau an important and influential figure in American history.

Thoreau's legacy is still alive today, and his books are widely read across the globe. From his writings, readers can find true understanding of being in harmony with nature, being true to oneself and advocating for one’s beliefs in the face of adversity. His works are important to literature, nature conservation and philosophy, and his writings will continue to inspire people to make smarter and more conscious environmental decisions.