| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Charles Appleton Longfellow |
| Birth | June 9, 1844; Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Death | April 13, 1893; Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Education | Miss Jennison’s School |
| Military Service | 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Massachusetts Cavalry (1863–1864) |
| Notable Travels | England (1866), India (1868–1869), Japan (1871–1874) |
| Primary Pursuits | Cultural documentation, yachting, global exploration |
| Family Wealth | Supported by Longfellow and Appleton inheritances |
Early Life
Charles was born into privilege on June 9, 1844, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where his boyhood home was full of intellectual and artistic debates. Despite losing his left thumb in a hunting accident at 11, Miss Jennison’s schooling inspired a love of sketching in him. In March 1863, restless for purpose, he joined the Union Army without his father’s permission, entering the Civil War at 17.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 9, 1844 |
| Early Education | Miss Jennison’s School |
| Accident | Lost left thumb at age 11 in a gun accident |
| First Exposure to War | Witnessed naval action at Ship Island, 1862 |
| Enlistment | Ran away and joined as private; commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Massachusetts Cavalry, 1863 |
Career
Charles followed his curiosity after the war and traveled to England, India, and Meiji-era Japan, where he wrote a rich journal for researchers. His dispatches, frequently with Felice Beato photos, gave Westerners rare vistas of Asian landscapes and cultures. Back home, his yachting love and excellent observations made him a Boston cultural figure, though he never held a formal position beyond adventurer and chronicler.
| Years | Destination / Pursuit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1866 | England | Explored literary sites and London galleries |
| 1868–1869 | India | Documented Mughal architecture and colonial society |
| 1871–1874 | Japan | Compiled Twenty Months in Japan with Felice Beato photos |
| 1875–1885 | Cuba & Mexico | Recorded local customs and early republican politics |
| 1886–1891 | Scotland & Mediterranean yachting | Pursued sailing expeditions and sketched coastal scenes |
Net Worth
Charles never did business and few 19th-century private ledgers survive. His long journeys, yacht maintenance, and artistic patronage were supported by the Longfellow and Appleton families’ generous inheritances. We don’t have a bank statement, but his capacity to travel continents for years suggests financial security.
| Source | Financial Context |
|---|---|
| Longfellow Literary Earnings | Royalties and advances from popular poems and lectures |
| Appleton Family Inheritance | Substantial Boston-area real estate and banking connections |
| Personal Expenditure | Funded extensive travel, yachting, and cultural patronage |
Family Members
Charles’s life was impacted by his parents, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a famous poet; Frances Appleton, a Boston heiress; and siblings who excelled in art, education, and reform. Brother Ernest was a respected painter and architect, while sister Alice ran social causes from the family estate. Charles became more involved with Boston’s creative elite through Uncle Thomas Gold Appleton’s patronage.
| Name | Relation | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Henry W. Longfellow | Father | Author of Paul Revere’s Ride and Song of Hiawatha |
| Frances E. Appleton | Mother | Boston socialite, inspired family philanthropy |
| Ernest W. Longfellow | Brother | Painter and architect in New England |
| Alice Longfellow | Sister | Educator and social reformer |
| Anne Allegra & Edith | Sisters | Active in literary salons |
| Thomas G. Appleton | Uncle | Merchant, art patron, collaborator with Boston cultural society |
FAQ
Who was Charles Appleton Longfellow?
A Civil War veteran turned globetrotting cultural observer, poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was his father.
What happened to his thumb?
A hunting accident at 11 cost him his left thumb, yet he persevered.
What did he publish?
His main publication is Twenty Months in Japan, a journal documenting Meiji-era society with vivid text and photographs.
Did he fight in the Civil War?
At 17, he joined the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry as a 2nd Lieutenant and was wounded at New Hope Church, Virginia.
Was he wealthy?
His extended trips and yachting hobbies were sponsored by Longfellow and Appleton family inheritances, though figures are unknown.
What were his main pursuits?
He focused on travel, art, and yachting rather than a career.
Who were his siblings?
Brother Ernest was an artist-architect, while sister Alice promoted education and social issues.
How did family influence him?
His cultural curiosity and lifetime documentation of foreign communities sprang from his literary and humanitarian upbringing.
