Biography.guide
Home › People › Politician › Edward Dickinson
Portrait of Edward Dickinson

Edward Dickinson

1803 – 1874

American politician from Massachusetts, father of Emily Dickinson

Politician Poet Lawyer
Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Edward Dickinson

Lived 1803 – 1874 (aged 71). Edward Dickinson was an American politician, poet and lawyer.

Edward Dickinson (January 1, 1803 – June 16, 1874) was an American politician from Massachusetts. He is also known as the father of the poet Emily Dickinson; their family home in Amherst, the Emily Dickinson Museum, is a museum dedicated to her.

Life and career

Dickinson, the eldest son of Hon. Samuel Fowler Dickinson and Lucretia (Gunn) Dickinson, was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, where he attended public schools and the Amherst Academy. He graduated from Yale College in 1823 and studied at Northampton Law School in Northampton, Massachusetts. He was admitted to the bar and commenced law practice in Amherst in 1826. On May 6, 1828, he married Emily Norcross Dickinson (1804–1882); they had three children: William Austin, Emily Elizabeth, and Lavinia Norcross. He is buried in Amherst's West Cemetery.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Born
1 January 1803, Amherst
Birth century
19th century
Died
16 June 1874, Boston
Occupation
Politician, poet, lawyer
Nationality
United States
Education
Yale College, Northampton Law School
Positions held
United States representative, Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Member of the State Senate of Massachusetts, Member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council

Family & relationships

Spouse
Emily Norcross Dickinson
Child
Emily Dickinson
Child
Lavinia Norcross Dickinson
Child
William Austin Dickinson

People in Edward Dickinson's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Portrait of William Austin
William Austin
1778 – 1841
Politician
 Portrait of Samuel Fowler
Samuel Fowler
1779 – 1844
Politician

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Edward Dickinson's

Portrait of Louis Nicolas Vauquelin
Louis Nicolas Vauquelin
1763 – 1829
Chemist
 Portrait of William Hyde Wollaston
William Hyde Wollaston
1766 – 1828
Chemist
 Portrait of Joseph Fourier
Joseph Fourier
1768 – 1830
Mathematician
 Portrait of Alexander von Humboldt
Alexander von Humboldt
1769 – 1859
Geologist
 Portrait of Georges Cuvier
Georges Cuvier
1769 – 1832
Paleontologist
 Portrait of Robert Brown
Robert Brown
1773 – 1858
Botanist

Frequently asked questions

Who was Edward Dickinson?

American politician from Massachusetts, father of Emily Dickinson (1803-1874)

When was Edward Dickinson born?

Edward Dickinson was born on 1 January 1803 in Amherst.

When did Edward Dickinson die?

Edward Dickinson died on 16 June 1874 in Boston.

What was Edward Dickinson's occupation?

Edward Dickinson was a politician, poet and lawyer.

What nationality was Edward Dickinson?

Edward Dickinson was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Edward Dickinson

· Wikidata: Q1292062

· DBpedia: Edward Dickinson

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Edward Dickinson. https://biography.guide/edward-dickinson/

MLA: "Edward Dickinson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/edward-dickinson/.

Chicago: "Edward Dickinson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/edward-dickinson/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-26 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:13 UTC