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Robert Frost is born
On the 26th of March in 1874, Robert Frost is born. He was born to Isabelle Moodie, of Scottish descent, and William Prescott Frost Jr., who was descended from Colonist Nicolas Frost. Being born into this family of teachers, he was exposed early on to the world of books and reading. His father left teaching to become an editor for the San Francisco Evening Bulletin. Even though he is popular for writing about rural county life, he was brought up in the city. -
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The Life of Robert Frost
This is the life of Robert Frost -
Robert Frost's Father Dies
After taking the job as editor of the San Francisco Evening Bullitin, William Prescott Frost, Jr. began gambling and drinking. He died in 1855 after contracting tuberculosis. After settling the family's debts, Robert moved with his mother and sister, Jeanie to Lawrence, Massacheusetts, William Prescott Frost, Jr.'s last wishes were honored by burying him there. -
La Noche Triste is written
"La Noche Triste" is Frost's first published poem. It was published in his high school newspaper. It's based on father's book Conquest of Mexico. "The Song of the Wave" appeared in the high school newspaper in May. -
Enters Dartmouth College
After graduating at the head of his class and passing the entrance exams for Harvard, he enrolls in Dartmouth College. He chose Darmouth because it was cheaper and his grandparents were paying for his education. His grandfather also blamed Harvard for Robert's father's bad habits. He leaves after only two months, but does become a member of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity. -
My Butterfly: an Elegy is written
After returning from Dartmouth and woking at severl odd jobs that he hated, he finally got a break. Frost sold his first poem, "My Butterfly: An Elegy" for fifteen dollars. It was published in the New York Independent. -
Frost Marries Elinor White
Frost marries his co-valedictorian and school sweetheart Elinor White who had already turned him down one time. Elinor turned him down because she wanted to finish school first. They had six children, Elliott, Carol, Lesley, Irma, Marjorie, and Elinor Bettina. -
First Son Born
Robert and Elinor's first son, Elliot, was born September 25, 1896. Elliot dies of cholera on July 8 and is buried in Lawrence. Elinor becomes very depressed. -
Enters Harvard University
Frost again passes Harvard College entrance exams. He borrows the money from his grandfather to go to Harvard. While there he studies Libral Arts. -
Withdraws from Harvard
After finally getting to go to Harvard, the worst happens. Frost drops out before he can get a degree, and has to move back to Lawrence in order to support his family. -
Daughter Lesley born
On April 28, 1899, Frost's second child, Lesley, was born. She is one of the on;y two children who will out live their father. -
Elliot dies
Frost's son Elliot dies from cholera just two months shy of his fourth birthday and is buried in Lawrence. Elinor suffers from great depression. Also during this time Frost also finds out his mom has cancer and put in a sanitorium in New Hampshire. His mom dies on November 2, 1900. -
William Prescot Frost Sr. dies
Frost's grandfather dies and in his will Frost gets a $500 yearly and to use the Derry farm for ten years. After which the yearly amount is raised to $800 and Frost is to be given ownership of the farm. Frost remembers these years as some of the saddest of his life. -
Carol is born
Frost's third chlid, son Carol is born May 27, 1902. -
Irma is born
Frost published a short story "Trap nests" in The Eastern Poultryman in February. Later in June he welcomed his fourth child, daughter Irma. -
Marjorie is born
The Frosts welcome their fifth child, Marjorie. After this Frost starts teaching English literature at Pinkerton Academy in Derry. He also publishes "The Tuft of Flowers" in the Derry Enterprise in the same year. Eventually Frost takes a full-time teaching job at Pinkerton Academy. -
The sixth child
Elinor Bettina is born on June 18, and dies on June 21 -
The "Derry Years" End
Frost accepts an offer to teach at State Normal School and moves his family to Plymouth, NH. Sells the farm in Derry. Teaches courses in education and psychology for a year. -
Frosts set sail for England
Sails with family to England. Rents a cottage in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, 20 miles north of London. Submits "A Boy's Will" in October to David Nutt and Company. -
"A Boy's Will" is published
Along with meeting a lot of famous literary figures like Ezra Pound and Edward Thomas, he gets "A Boy's Will" published. William Butler Yeats says it is "the best poetry written in America for a long time". -
North of Boston published in America
North of Boston was published in America on February 20. It contained two of his best loved poems, "The Mending Wall" and "After Apple Picking". Frost arrived in New York on February 23 to meet with editors. "A Boy's Will" is published in April in America. Frost buys farm in Franconia, New Hampshire. -
Mountain Interval is published
Mountain Interval is published November 27. Frost gives talks and readings throughout New England. Finally, he accepts an offer from Alexander Meiklejohn, president of Amherst College, to teach for one semester at a salary of $2,000. -
Resigns from Amherst and becpmes a consultin editor
Resigns position at Amherst in February over disagreements and to devote more time to writing. He becomes a consulting editor for Henry Holt and company. -
The Bread Loaf School
Frost spends the first of 42 summers lecturing at the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College, in Ripton, Vermont. -
Pulitzer Awarded for New Hampshire
Frost was awarded Pulitzer Prize for New Hampshire in May. This is the first of four he wins. He also receives Honorary Litt.D. degrees from Middlebury College and Yale University. He also tells Amherst he will acceptance a lifetime appointment at University of Michigan in the fall. -
Elinor dies
On March 20, 1938, Elinor dies of heart failure in Gainesville, Florida. Frost collapses from grief and is unable to attend cremation. He soon resigns his position at Amherst College and returns to South Shaftsbury. He felt very guilty for how cold he had been to her at times. -
Complete Poems of Robert Frost published
In May of 1949 The Complete Poems of Robert Frost was published. It contained over 350 of his works and the first gathering of all his poems in one book. -
Speaks at President Kennedy's Inaguration
Robert Frost was the first poet commissioned to write a poem for the inauguration of President Kennedy. He did this at eighty six years old. When it was time to read, the sun was so bright that he couldn't read the original poem "Dedication," that he wrote. Instead, he recited his poem "The Gift Outright" from memory. -
Frost dies
He was pronounced dead at Peter Bent Brigham hospital at 1:50 A.M. after compalining of chest pains. He died of blood clots in his lungs. He was buried in Old Bennington, Vermont in the family plot.
