Arlo Bates

Born in East Machias, Maine, in 1850, Arlo Bates built a varied literary career that stretched across poetry, novels, essays, and journalism. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1876 and soon became active in Boston literary life.

In 1880 he became editor of the Boston Sunday Courier, a role he held for more than a decade. He later taught English at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, combining academic work with a steady output of books and criticism.

Bates was also recognized by his peers: he was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1900. He died in 1918, leaving behind a body of work that reflects both the literary culture and the social world of his era.