Born January 2, 1752 (New York, New York)

Died December 19, 1832 (Monmouth County, New Jersey)

Poet, editor

Philip Freneau was a major early American poet who used his wit and literary skills to advance America's political goals at the end of the eighteenth century. His talent and dedication to the revolutionary cause earned him the title "poet of the American Revolution." Many other authors from his time wrote for the cultured, wealthy citizens of the nation, but Freneau was different; he identified with the common people. Freneau devoted his life to public service, pouring his energy into propaganda (information distributed for the purpose of promoting a viewpoint) for American independence and full democracy (a government ruled through majority decisions made by the people).

Freneau also advocated the idea of naturalism (the belief in a natural order to the world that can be explained through the sciences). Many people still...