Joel Barlow

Joel Barlow (1754–1812) was an American poet, diplomat, and political philosopher. A member of the Hartford Wits, a group of early American writers, he gained fame with The Vision of Columbus (1787), later expanded into the epic The Columbiad (1807). The poem, though ambitious in its celebration of American progress and liberty, was criticized for its length and didactic style. Barlow also wrote political pamphlets and served as U.S. consul to Algiers and minister to France, where he negotiated treaties. His literary legacy rests on his attempt to create a national epic for the young republic, reflecting Enlightenment ideals. He died in Poland during Napoleon's retreat from Russia.