Robert Montgomery BirdRobert Montgomery Bird was an American author, playwright, and doctor. He was born on February 5, 1806, and died on January 23, 1854. Bird was born on February 5, 1806, in New Castle, Delaware. He was born into a family of pioneers. His father was a wealthy partner in the firm of Navy agents Bird and Riddle. When Bird was four years old, his father died. His mother and brothers moved to Philadelphia, but his rich uncle, Nicholas Van Dyke, took him in. Then Bird went to New Castle Academy, where he was encouraged to get better at music. He later wrote that school was not fun for him. After going to the New Castle Academy and the Germantown Academy, he got his degree in 1824 from the University of Pennsylvania. Bird began to write about Latin, American, and English literature, especially the playwrights of the Elizabethan era. Then, while he was in medical school, he began to write short poems and stories. He wasn't very interested in medicine. By 1827, he had written for the Philadelphia Monthly Magazine and written two comedies, 'Twas All for the Best and News of the Night. After he graduated from medical school, he tried to start his own medical practice, but after a year, he gave up and went into writing instead. Read More Read Less