* Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet who is widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers in American literature. He is considered the leading spokesperson of the Transcendentalist movement, and his work is characterized by its emphasis on individualism, self-reliance, and the spirituality of nature. Emerson's most famous works include The American Scholar, Nature, and Self-Reliance.