William Austin Dickinson
Encyclopedia
William Austin Dickinson (April 16, 1829 – August 16, 1895) was an American
lawyer. Known to family and friends as "Austin", he was the older brother of the poet Emily Dickinson
.
After graduating from both Amherst College
and Harvard Law School
, he joined his father, Edward Dickinson
, in his law practice. After his father's death, Austin became treasurer of Amherst College
from 1873 until his death. In addition to his law practice and treasury work, Dickinson took part in numerous civic projects and responsibilities, such as moderating the town meetings from 1881 until his death, and acting as president of the Village Improvement Association.
Dickinson married Susan Huntington Gilbert, a friend of his sister Emily from childhood, in 1856. They had three children and resided at the Evergreens, which stood next door to the Dickinson Homestead. Aside from his connection to his world famous sister, Emily, Austin is also known for his longtime affair with Mabel Loomis Todd
, a young faculty wife who would eventually edit the first few collections of Emily Dickinson's poetry.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer. Known to family and friends as "Austin", he was the older brother of the poet Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet. Born in Amherst, Massachusetts, to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life...
.
After graduating from both Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
and Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, he joined his father, Edward Dickinson
Edward Dickinson
Edward Dickinson was an American politician from Massachusetts. He is best known as the father of the poet Emily Dickinson; their family home in Amherst, the Dickinson Homestead, is now a museum dedicated to her....
, in his law practice. After his father's death, Austin became treasurer of Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
from 1873 until his death. In addition to his law practice and treasury work, Dickinson took part in numerous civic projects and responsibilities, such as moderating the town meetings from 1881 until his death, and acting as president of the Village Improvement Association.
Dickinson married Susan Huntington Gilbert, a friend of his sister Emily from childhood, in 1856. They had three children and resided at the Evergreens, which stood next door to the Dickinson Homestead. Aside from his connection to his world famous sister, Emily, Austin is also known for his longtime affair with Mabel Loomis Todd
Mabel Loomis Todd
Mabel Loomis Todd or Mabel Loomis was an American editor and writer, and the wife of the astronomer David Peck Todd. She is remembered as the editor of posthumously published editions of Emily Dickinson....
, a young faculty wife who would eventually edit the first few collections of Emily Dickinson's poetry.