On February 27, 1807, American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine to Stephen Longfellow and Zilpha Wadsworth. His maternal grandfather was Peleg Wadsworth, a general in the American Revolutionary War and a member of Congress.Image: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow / Library of CongressConsidered one of the most celebrated American poets of the 19th century, Longfellow’s works were immensely popular and beloved both domestically and abroad. Most famously, his poem “Paul Revere’s Ride” immortalize the story of Paul Revere and his midnight ride to warn American colonists of approaching British troops. In 1861, Longfellow experienced a tragedy with the death of his wife, Frances. Although in deep grief, Longfellow continued to write. In addition to his poetry, he devoted years to producing the first English translation of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. The full three-volume translation was finally published in 1867.Longfellow died on March 24, 1882 at the age of 75.Explore Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s family tree on Geni and share how you’re connected to the poet.View Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Geni Profile iframe{ border: 1px solid #999; } The post Profile of the Day: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow first appeared on About Geni.