Thomas Bailey Aldrich was an American poet, novelist, and editor who went on to edit some of the most well-known magazines of his day. His family had intended to send him to Harvard University when he was still a youngster, but his father died when he was still a child, thus the idea was scrapped. He dropped out of school at the age of 13 and went to work as a clerk in New York, but he continued to write on the side, and his work was soon published in newspapers and periodicals. His first book, ‘The Bells,’ was published in New York, and he went on to serve as a literary critic for the ‘New York Evening Mirror,’ before becoming a writer for the ‘Home Journal.’ The novel ‘The Story of a Bad Boy,’ which drew largely from his own life, is his most well-known work. However, he is most remembered for his work as the editor of the prestigious American newspaper ‘The Atlantic Monthly.’ He was the publication’s editor for nine years and was known for his unbiased viewpoints.
Childhood and Adolescence
Thomas Bailey Aldrich was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to Elias Taft Aldrich and his wife Sarah Abba Bailey Aldrich on November 11, 1836. The lineage of the family can be traced back to New England colonial households.When he was five years old, his family moved to New York, and when he was ten, they moved to New Orleans.
When he was 10 years old, his family sent him to Samuel De Merritt’s school in Portsmouth to prepare for Harvard University admittance. However, his father died, and any intentions to attend university had to be put on hold. He dropped out of school at the age of 13 and went to work as a clerk in a merchant’s office in New York City. He began working as a writer in New York and wrote to a variety of publications, including newspapers.
Career of Thomas Bailey Aldrich
He began working for his uncle in New York when he was sixteen years old, while also writing for a variety of magazines. However, his first break as a writer came in 1855, when his collection of rhymes named ‘The Bells’ was published, and through his associations with notable literary figures of the day, he was able to establish a reputation in literary circles.
He was hired as a member of the staff at the ‘Home Journal’ in 1856 and stayed there for three years. During his time at the publication, he rose through the ranks to become a sub-editor of the ‘Home Journal.’ He had previously worked as a literary critic for the ‘New York Evening Mirror.’ He was the editor of the ‘New York Illustrated News’ during the American Civil War, which lasted four years from 1861 to 1865.
Following the Civil War’s conclusion, he was named editor of ‘Every Saturday,’ a position he held for the next ten years until the newspaper was shut down by the publishers. ‘Our Young Folks’ released his novel ‘The Story of a Bad Boy’ in 1870. He published another story collection, ‘Marjorie Daw and Other People,’ three years later. Among his other famous works are poetry collections such as ‘Cloth of Gold,’ ‘Flower and Thorn,’ ‘Wyndham Towers,’ and ‘Mercedes and Later Lyrics.’
In 1881, Aldrich was named editor of ‘The Atlantic Monthly,’ one of America’s most respected journals. He was the editor for nine years and was noted for his independence, refusing to print articles from powerful persons if he did not believe they deserved any space in the magazine. He spent the remainder of his days writing and traveling with his family after his spell at ‘The Atlantic Monthly.’
Major Projects of Thomas Bailey Aldrich
The novel ‘The Story of a Bad Boy’ is considered one of his most important works, partly due to the fact that it is autobiographical. The book was released in both the United Kingdom and the United States.
Personal History and Legacy
On November 28, 1865, he married Lillian Woodman. Both of their boys were born to the couple. Charles, one of his sons, died of tuberculosis. After his son died, he quit writing completely. He died in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 19, 1907, at the age of 70. It is unknown what caused his death.
Estimated Net Worth
Thomas is one of the wealthiest poets and one of the most well-known. Thomas Bailey Aldrich has a net worth of $1.5 million, according to Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.