Hayne, Paul Hamilton, 1830-1886

"Hayne, Paul Hamilton (1 Jan. 1830-6 July 1886), poet and man of letters, was born in Charleston, South Carolina, the son of Paul Hamilton Hayne, a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, and Emily McElhenny, members of families prominent in politics, law, and religion. Two of the elder Hayne's brothers were U.S. senators, one of whom, Robert Young Hayne, was Daniel Webster's redoubtable opponent in the debates on Nullification and young Hayne's guardian after yellow fever caused the early death of his father. Educated in a local preparatory school and at the College of Charleston (1847-1850), Hayne turned after graduation to the study of law with James Louis Petigru, former state attorney general, and in 1852 was admitted to the bar. Also in 1852 he married Mary Middleton Michel; they had one child. But literature prevailed over law, and Hayne became editor and owner of the Southern Literary Gazette late in 1852. Disheartened by the reception of the Gazette, he sold it in 1854 and later that year assembled his first book, Poems, from previously published verse. " -- "Hayne, Paul Hamilton" from American National Biography (Accessed May 13, 2009)

Poet and literary critic, of Charleston, S.C., and Columbia County, Georgia

American poet.

Poet and literary critic, of Charleston, S.C., and Columbia Co., Ga.

Epithet: American poet

Poet.

Poet born in Charleston, South Carolina. Paul Hamilton Hayne, the only child of Paul Hamilton Hayne and Emily McElhenny Hayne, was raised by his mother and uncle Robert Young Hayne (U.S. Senator and South Carolina Governor) after his father died. Hayne married Mary Middleton Michel (of Charleston) in 1852, and had a son, William H. Hayne. Hayne's aunt was Susan B. Hayne. Hayne briefly practiced law but abandoned that profession for a literary career. He became editor of Russell's Magazine and the Charleston Literary Gazette, contributed poems and articles to various periodicals, and published three volumes of poetry in Boston. The Civil War destroyed much of his property, causing him to move his family to "Copse Hill" at Grovetown, Georgia in 1866.

Paul Hamilton Hayne, poet, editor, and contributor to many Southern literary periodicals, was born 1 January 1830, in Charleston, South Carolina, and died 8 July 1886, in Grovetown, Georgia.

Poet of Charleston, Greenville, and Edgefield, S.C., and Augusta, Ga.; graduate, College of Charleston, 1850; served as aide-de-camp to Gov. Francis Pickens, 1861-1862; son of Paul Hamilton Hayne and Emily McElhenny Hayne; nephew of S.C. Senator Robert Young Hayne (1791-1839); husband of Mary Middleton Michel; father of William Hamilton Hayne (1856-1929).

Nationally renowned as "poet laureate of the South"; edited and contributed to various newspapers and magazines, including "Russell's Magazine," "Southern Literary Messenger" and "Southern Literary Gazette"; published poetry volumes, including "Poems" (1855), "Sonnets and Other Poems" (1857), "Avolio: A Legend of the Island of Cos" (1860), "Legends and Lyrics" (1872), and "Mountain of the Lovers" (1875).