Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Born February 27th, 1807, he led quite an interesting life, studying abroad, mastering several languages, working as a professor, enjoying fame for his work, marrying twice and tragically losing both wives. Throughout his life he wrote many plays, ballads, poems and more. Find out more about Longfellow's life and works here.

He wrote several well-loved poems including his famous The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. Which begins:

Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year

He said to his friend, "If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch
Of the North Church tower as a signal light,-

One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country folk to be up and to arm."


Sudbury is the home of Longfellow's Wayside Inn, located on Boston Post Rd, which has operated as an Inn and restaurant for over 200 years. George Washington is known to have stayed there on his way to Boston.


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