William Francis Bret Harte
- Born:
- August 25, 1836, Albany, New York, USA
- Died:
- May 5, 1902, Camberley, Surrey, England
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Author, Poet
Early Life and Education
- Born as Francis Brett Hart, later changed to Francis Bret Harte.
- Received limited formal education.
- Self-educated through extensive reading.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked as a typesetter, miner, teacher, and journalist in California.
- Editor of The Californian.
- Achieved literary fame with stories of the American West, particularly during the California Gold Rush.
- Appointed professor of Californian literature at the University of California.
- Served as U.S. Commercial Agent in Crefeld, Germany, and later as U.S. Consul in Glasgow, Scotland.
Notable Works
- "The Luck of Roaring Camp" (short story)
- "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" (short story)
- "Plain Language from Truthful James" (poem)
- Gabriel Conroy (novel)
Legacy and Impact
Francis Bret Harte's works significantly influenced the development of Western literature, helping to shape the image of the American West in popular culture. While later he wrote the 'francis bret harte biography of william', his enduring impact remains his influential and widely read short stories and poems depicting life during the California Gold Rush.