Inspired by stories from his grandfather, his “Battle of Lovell’s Pond” appeared in the Portland Gazette in 1820 when he was 13

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was known as one of the most prominent figures of American literature in the 19th century, where he began showing signs of his literary prowess at an early age. His poem “Battle of Lovell’s Pond,” published in the Portland Gazette when he was only 13, was inspired by stories he heard from his grandfather. This marked the beginning of a long and distinguished writing career that would include classic works like “Paul Revere’s Ride,” “The Song of Hiawatha,” and “Evangeline.”