Born in Washington, D.C. on January 12, 1853, poet, editor, and diplomat, Robert Underwood Johnson spent his childhood in Indiana where his father served as a judge. He graduated from Earlham College in 1871, and then joined the staff of The Century Magazine, becoming associate editor in 1881, a position he occupied until 1913. A prolific poet, Johnson several volumes including The Winter Hour, and Other Poems (1891) and Poems, first published in 1902 with several subsequent editions. He also served as the permanent secretary of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Additionally, Johnson dedicated himself to the conservation of America’s natural resources. With John Muir, he began the movement that created Yosemite National Park as well as applying pressure to President Roosevelt, which resulted in White House conferences on conservation.

Italy was another of Johnson’s interests. Besides admiration of Italian art and culture, Johnson served as president of the New York Committee of the Italian War Relief Fund of America and the “American Poets Ambulances in Italy” which provided the Italian army with 112 ambulances. From April 1920 to July 1921, Johnson was the U. S. Ambassador to Italy while also representing the United States as observer at the San Remo Conference and the Supreme Council of the League.

After returning to the United States, Johnson focused on publishing poetry and his memoirs, Remembered Yesterdays, until he passed away in 1937.

Source:

Robert Underwood Johnson Collection." University of Delaware Library, Special Collections Department. Accessed December 5, 2011.