Herman Melville

Herman Melville, who himself spent many years of his life on whaling ships—at a time when whale hunting was a dangerous job—was born in 1819 in New York and is considered one of the greatest American authors. His family was wealthy during his childhood, but his father went bankrupt in 1830 and died shortly after, leaving his wife alone with eight children. Herman left school early and had to find work to help his siblings. He first embarked on ships in 1839, and his travels took him to many parts of the world. When his first books were published, he immediately found success. In 1847, after getting married, he left the sea and settled in Massachusetts, where he spent the best years of his life. The Civil War disrupted the Melville family, prompting their return to New York. He died in 1891, leaving behind numerous unfinished works, which were discovered much later.