Thomas Buchanan Read

Thomas Buchanan Read (March 12, 1822 – May 11, 1872) was an American poet and painter. His portraits include many famous individuals including Robert Browning, Joseph Harrison Jr., William Henry Harrison, Abraham Lincoln, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Alfred Tennyson.

He first achieved national prominence in Cincinnati, Ohio. He studied under sculptor Shobal Vail Clevenger and opened an art studio sponsored by wealthy horticulturist Nicholas Longworth. He chafed under criticism from Longworth and moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where he befriended poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and painter Washington Allston. He moved to Rome, Italy, and opened a studio, but achieved most of his artistic success while living in Florence, Italy. He was briefly associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. He returned to the United States during the American Civil War and served as a major in the Union Army.

His most well known poem, "Sheridan's Ride", depicts Union General Philip Sheridan's charge at the Battle of Cedar Creek during the American Civil War. Read gave recitations of the poem to the public and troops to build support for the war in the North. The poem's popularity also prompted the creation of several paintings by Read depicting the scene.

Read was born on March 12, 1822, in Corner Ketch, a hamlet near Downingtown, Pennsylvania. He received only an elementary school level of education. After the death of his father, he apprenticed with a local tailor then moved to Philadelphia and worked as a grocer and tobacconist. At age 15, he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, to live with his sister. He worked painting signs and apprenticed under sculptor Shobal Vail Clevenger. He also worked as an actor impersonating female roles due to his slight build.

In Cincinnati, Read established a portrait studio with the assistance of the wealthy horticulturist Nicholas Longworth. In 1840, he gained national prominence through his portrait of Whig presidential candidate William Henry Harrison. He also published his first poetry collection in the Cincinnati Chronicle and Times. He parted ways with Longworth due to criticism of his work. In 1841, he moved to Boston, Massachusetts, and became friends with poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and painter Washington Allston. Longfellow hired Read to paint a portrait of his daughters which is considered one of his best works.

In 1843, he published a series of poems in the Boston Courier which later became the basis for the book Lays and Ballads.

In 1846 he moved backed to Philadelphia and in 1850, he moved to Rome, Italy, where he opened a studio and achieved success in art and literature. He returned to the United States in 1861 at the outbreak of the American Civil War and joined the Union Army. He served as a major on the staff of General Lew Wallace and gave public performances of his war songs to rally the Union troops. After one such performance, future president General James A. Garfield wrote to Read and thanked him for "the pleasure of hearing your words".

His most famous poem is Sheridan's Ride which depicts Union General Philip Sheridan's cavalry charge at the Battle of Cedar Creek during the American Civil War. It was printed in the New York Tribune on election day 1864 on the front page and may have impacted the margin of victory for Abraham Lincoln. The work proved so popular, he was asked by Union League of Philadelphia to create a painting of the subject matter. He ended up making several copies of the painting, 17 of which still exist.