Ralph Waldo Emerson was born in Boston, Massachusetts in

Ralph Waldo Emerson was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1803. A self-proclaimed “Naturalist,” Emerson founded a dist1803. A self-proclaimed “Naturalist,” Emerson founded a distinctly American philosophy emphasizing optimism, individualiinctly American philosophy emphasizing optimism, individuality, and mysticism. In the 1840's, his essays, speeches, and ty, and mysticism. In the 1840's, his essays, speeches, and poetry defined him as a central character in the Trancendentpoetry defined him as a central character in the Trancendental