Thomas B. Read
East Brandywine Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
The painter and poet was born Mar. 12, 1822, a mile away. Author of well-known "Sheridan's Ride." Spent mature years in Europe, but died in New York City, May 11, 1872, and is buried in Philadelphia.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Thomas Buchanan Read, born in this corner of Chester County in 1822, won fame in the 19th century as both a painter and a poet. He is best remembered for "Sheridan's Ride," a galloping verse that immortalized a Union general's dramatic dash to rally his troops during the Civil War. Read spent much of his life abroad in Europe before dying in New York and being laid to rest in Philadelphia.
Why it matters
His most famous poem turned a Civil War battlefield moment into enduring popular legend, showing how art shaped the nation's memory of the war.
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Related people
- · Thomas Buchanan Read
- · Philip Sheridan
Themes & tags
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