Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and educator, born on February 27, 1807, in Portland, Maine. He is best known for his narrative poems, such as "Paul Revere's Ride" and "The Song of Hiawatha." Longfellow was the first American to translate Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy," which helped introduce European literature to American readers. Longfellow's work often explored themes of love, nature, and American history. He was a prominent figure in the Fireside Poets, a group of 19th-century poets who were popular for their accessible and family-friendly poetry. Longfellow passed away on March 24, 1882, leaving a lasting legacy in American literature.