Thomas Wentworth Higginson (1823-1911) was an author, poet, editor, minister, and social reformer. Born in Massachusetts to a socially prominent family, he had four poems published by the time he was sixteen and went on to publish fiction, nonfiction, articles, essays, and more poetry. Thomas served as a colonel in the Civil War, commanding the first Union regiment of freed African American soldiers. A lifelong radical, much of his writing was in support of women's suffrage, the temperance movement, and the abolition of slavery. Higginson is better known for his association with Emily Dickinson. After receiving a letter from her in response to an article he wrote for the Atlantic Monthly, he became her friend and mentor for the remainder of her life and edited her poems for publication after her death.