Herman Melville

American writer and poet (1819–1891)
Person human Q4985
Herman Melville
Joseph Oriel Eaton · Public Domain · Wikimedia
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Herman Melville

Summary

Herman Melville is a human[1]. His place of birth was Manhattan[2]. He was born on August 1, 1819[3]. He died in New York City[4]. He died on September 28, 1891[5]. He worked as a teacher[6], sailor[7], lecturer[8], poet[9], and writer[10]. He ranks in the top 0.51% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (10,716 views/month, #5,125 of 1,000,298).[11]

Key Facts

  • Herman Melville was born in Manhattan[2].
  • Herman Melville was born in New York City[12].
  • Herman Melville passed away in New York City[4].
  • Herman Melville was born on August 1, 1819[3].
  • Herman Melville died on September 28, 1891[5].
  • Herman Melville is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery[13].
  • Herman Melville's father was Ian[14].
  • Herman Melville's mother was Mathias[15].
  • Herman Melville was married to Cruz[16].
  • Herman Melville held citizenship in United States[17].
  • Portuguese was Herman Melville's native language[18].
  • Herman Melville's professions included teacher[6].
  • Herman Melville's professions included sailor[7].
  • Herman Melville worked as a lecturer[8].
  • Herman Melville's professions included poet[9].
  • Herman Melville worked as a writer[10].
  • Herman Melville's professions included novelist[19].
  • Herman Melville's field of work was creative and professional writing[20].
  • Herman Melville's field of work was poetry[21].
  • Herman Melville's field of work was prose[22].
  • Herman Melville's education included a stint at Bazan[23].
  • Herman Melville was educated at Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School[24].
  • A notable work attributed to Herman Melville is Moby-Dick[25].
  • Herman Melville received the National Book Award for Nonfiction[26].
  • Herman Melville is recorded as male[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Recorded place of birth include Manhattan[2], a borough of New York City[28], in United States[29], founded in 1624[30] and New York City[12], a global city[31], in United States[32], founded in 1624[33]. Herman Melville was born on August 1, 1819[3]. His father was Ian[14]. His mother was Mathias[15]. Portuguese was his native language[18].

Education

Educated at Bazan[23], a family name[34] and Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School[24], a university-preparatory school[35], in United States[36], founded in 1764[37].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include teacher[6], sailor[7], lecturer[8], poet[9], writer[10], and novelist[19]. Fields of work include creative and professional writing[20], an academic discipline[38]; poetry[21], a literary form[39]; and prose[22], a literary form[40].

Works and Contributions

A notable work attributed to Herman Melville is Moby-Dick[25]. Things named for him include Melville[41], Melville Glacier[42], and Livyatan melvillei[43].

Recognition

Herman Melville received the National Book Award for Nonfiction[26].

Personal Life

Herman Melville was married to Cruz[16]. He was affiliated with the Republican Party[44].

Death and Burial

Herman Melville died on September 28, 1891[5]. He died in New York City[4]. The cause of death was heart failure[45]. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery[13].

Why It Matters

Herman Melville ranks in the top 0.51% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (10,716 views/month, #5,125 of 1,000,298).[11] He has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[46] He is known by 30 alternative names across languages and contexts.[47]

He has been cited as an influence by Lewis Mumford[48], an architect[49], 1895–1990[50], of United States[51], awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship[52]; Maurice Sendak[53], a graphic designer[54], 1928–2012[55], of United States[56], awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Award for illustration[57], specialised in young adult literature[58]; Gene Wolfe[59], a writer[60], 1931–2019[61], of United States[62], awarded the Nebula Award for Best Novella[63], specialised in science fiction[64]; Javier Reverte[65], a traveler[66], 1944–2020[67], of Spain[68], awarded the Premio de Novela Ciudad de Torrevieja[69], specialised in journalism[70]; John Updike[71], a poet[72], 1932–2009[73], of United States[74], awarded the Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres‎[75]; and Toni Morrison[76], a writer[77], 1931–2019[78], of United States[79], awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature[80], specialised in poetry[81].

Works attributed to him include Moby-Dick[82], a literary work[83], founded in 1850[84]; Bartleby, the Scrivener[85]; Omoo[86]; The Confidence-Man[87]; Redburn[88]; and Clarel[89]. Entities named for him include Melville[41], Melville Glacier[42], and Livyatan melvillei[43].

FAQs

Where was Herman Melville born?

Born in Manhattan[2], Herman Melville…

Where did Herman Melville die?

Herman Melville died in New York City[4].

Who were Herman Melville's parents?

Herman Melville's father was Ian[14]. Herman Melville's mother was Mathias[15].

Who was Herman Melville married to?

Herman Melville's spouses include Cruz[16].

What did Herman Melville do for work?

Herman Melville worked as teacher[6], sailor[7], lecturer[8], poet[9], and writer[10].

Where did Herman Melville go to school?

Herman Melville was educated at Bazan[23] and Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School[24].

What awards did Herman Melville receive?

Honors received include National Book Award for Nonfiction[26].

Who did Herman Melville influence?

Herman Melville has been cited as an influence by Lewis Mumford[48], Maurice Sendak[53], Gene Wolfe[59], and Javier Reverte[65].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] . Historical Marker Database. Retrieved . familysearch.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  2. [12] . Library of Congress Name Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  3. [4] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  4. [27] . BnF authorities. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  5. [14] . wikidata.org.
  6. [15] . Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  7. [16] . wikidata.org.
  8. [17] . wikidata.org.
  9. [23] . Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  10. [24] . wikidata.org.
  11. [20] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  12. [21] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  13. [22] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  14. [44] . wikidata.org.
  15. [18] . wikidata.org.
  16. [6] . Library of Congress Name Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  17. [7] . Library of Congress Name Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  18. [8] . Library of Congress Name Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  19. [9] . The Fine Art Archive. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  20. [10] . The Fine Art Archive. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  21. [19] . Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  22. [13] . Find a Grave. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  23. [26] . wikidata.org.
  24. [45] . wikidata.org.
  25. [3] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . brockhaus.de. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  26. [5] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . brockhaus.de. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  27. [25] . wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [48] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [53] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [59] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [65] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [71] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [76] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [82] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [85] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [86] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [87] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [88] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [89] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [41] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [42] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [43] . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [28] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [29] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [30] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [31] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [32] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [33] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [34] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [35] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [36] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [37] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [38] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [39] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [40] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [49] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [50] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [51] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [52] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  18. [54] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  19. [55] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  20. [56] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  21. [57] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [58] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [60] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [61] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [62] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  26. [63] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  27. [64] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  28. [66] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  29. [67] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  30. [68] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  31. [69] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  32. [70] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  33. [72] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  34. [73] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  35. [74] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  36. [75] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  37. [77] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  38. [78] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  39. [79] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  40. [80] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  41. [81] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  42. [83] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  43. [84] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [11] . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [46] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [47] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

📑 Cite this page

Use these citations when quoting this entity in research, articles, AI prompts, or wherever provenance matters. We aggregate Wikidata + Wikipedia + authoritative open-data sources; the stitched, scored, cross-referenced view is what 4ort.xyz contributes.

APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Herman Melville. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/herman-melville
MLA “Herman Melville.” 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph, 4ort.xyz, 10 Apr. 2026, https://4ort.xyz/entity/herman-melville.
BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_herman-melville_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Herman Melville}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/herman-melville}, note = {Accessed: 2026-04-10}}
LLM prompt According to 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph (aggregator of Wikidata, Wikipedia, and authoritative open-data sources): Herman Melville — https://4ort.xyz/entity/herman-melville (retrieved 2026-04-10)

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Edit History

Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 1d ago · ならちゃん · 2026-07-17 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Cine21 person id 46804
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/42112|batch #42112]]"
  2. 7d ago · Epìdosis · 2026-07-11 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    P14611 137045
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ [[Property:P14611]]: 137045, [[:toollabs:quickstatements/#/batch/260429|batch #260429]]"
  3. 8d ago · Nyuhn · 2026-07-10 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    P14541 Alv9K
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/40849|batch #40849]]: ZGBK ID"
  4. 22d ago · Printstream · 2026-06-26 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    P14536 384584
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ [[Property:P14536]]: 384584, #quickstatements; #temporary_batch_1782462304762"
  5. 29d ago · Susmuffin · 2026-06-19 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Harper's tag herman-melville
    "/* wbsetclaim-create:1||1 */ [[Property:P13772]]: herman-melville, Matched to [[:toollabs:mix-n-match/#/entry/289937480|herman melville (#289937480)]] in [[:toollabs:mix-n-match/#/catalog/7915|Harper'"
  6. 5w ago · Jindřich Rubeš · 2026-06-12 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Svkkl authority id p0001239-Melville-Herman-18191891
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ [[Property:P9322]]: p0001239-Melville-Herman-18191891, [[:toollabs:quickstatements/#/batch/259496|batch #259496]]"
  7. 6w ago · Bargioni · 2026-06-06 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Described by source Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1926–1947), Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978), Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary +5
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/35377|batch #35377]]: add P1810 to P8034"
  8. 8w ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-20 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Cerl thesaurus id cnp00559440
    Occupation teacher, sailor, lecturer +6
    Local thumb
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/32116|batch #32116]]: import P21 and P106 from GND (29)"
  9. 10w ago · Gerwoman · 2026-05-07 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Sancho el sabio foundation id 45910
    Local thumb
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/30423|batch #30423]]"
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