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Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist, dark romantic, and short story writer. His works often focus on history, morality, and religion. He was born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts, from a family long associated with that town. Hawthorne entered Bowdoin College in 1821, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1824, and graduated in 1825. He published his first work in 1828, the novel Fanshawe; he later tried to suppress it, feeling that it was not equal to the standard of his later work. He published several short stories in periodicals, which he collected in 1837 as Twice-Told Tales. The following year, he became engaged to Sophia Peabody. He worked at the Boston Custom House and joined Brook Farm, a transcendentalist community, before marrying Peabody in 1842. The couple moved to The Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts, later moving to Salem, the Berkshires, then to The Wayside in Concord. The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850, followed by a succession of other novels. A political appointment as consul took Hawthorne and family to Europe before their return to Concord in 1860. Hawthorne died on May 19, 1864, and was survived by his wife and their three children. Much of Hawthorne's writing centers on New England, many works featuring moral metaphors with an anti-Puritan inspiration. His fiction works are considered part of the Romantic movement and, more specifically, dark romanticism. His themes often center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity, and his works often have moral messages and deep psychological complexity. His published works include novels, short stories, and a biography of his college friend Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States.

Stephen Foster was America's first professional songwriter of note. He was born in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, and developed musical talent early in his life, while still young beginning to compose in the style of Negro minstrel music of the day. His first hit as a professional songwriter was "Oh! Susanna," which he sold to a publisher for $100 in 1848. In 1849, he began writing songs for the most successful black-faced minstrel troupe of all time, led by E.P. Christy, and from whom the 1960's folk group The New Christy Minstrels took their name. "The Old Folks at Home" (a/k/a "Swanee River") was written for Christy, and during the 1850's, Foster wrote most of his best-known songs, including "Camptown Races" and "My Old Kentucky Home." He married Jane Denny McDowell on July 22, 1850 and they settled in Pittsburgh, having one daughter, Marion. The troubled marriage was one of separations and reconciliations. During one such separation, he wrote "Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair," inspired by his estranged wife, and they reconciled after its publication. However, although Foster composed more than 200 songs in his lifetime, many still popular today, copyright laws in music were rarely enforced at the time and he made little money in his short life. By 1857, he was in a creative slump and in such economic straits that he sold all rights to any future songs for just under $2,000. He and his wife soon separated, but this one was to last until his death. He moved to New York City, living alone and suffering from acute alcoholism, which only added to his financial problems. Songs of the Civil War being fought at the time did not prove as popular as his previous songs. On January 13, 1864, he died in the charity ward of New York's Bellevue Hospital, being taken there after a protracted fever that had weakened him so much that he had collapsed and hit his head on a washbasin at home. Only two weeks before, he had composed his last great song, "Beautiful Dreamer."

Giacomo Meyerbeer was born on 5 September 1791 in Tasdorf, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He was a composer, known for Maytime (1937), Song of Surrender (1949) and Vento di primavera (1958). He died on 2 May 1864 in Paris, France.

William T. Anderson--aka "Bloody Bill Anderson"--was born in Hopkins County, KY, in 1840. His family moved to Kansas when he was a youngster. As a young man he made money by rustling horses and selling them to unsuspecting buyers. His father, a diehard Southerner, got into an argument with a judge who was a Union loyalist, resulting in his father being shot dead. Bill, fearing for his own life, took off for Missouri, where he made a living robbing travelers. Union soldiers pursued him, and he killed several of them. Shortly after the Civil War broke out Anderson joined up with a gang of Confederate guerrillas led by former schoolteacher William Quantrill. Anderson developed a useful skill as a guerrilla--setting up ambushes of Union soldiers and their civilian allies, which earned him the admiration and trust of the gang's leaders. It wasn't long before the authorities found out who Anderson was, and they arrested and imprisoned his sisters, one of whom died in custody, leading Anderson to vow bloody revenge. He played a vital part in what became known as the "Lawrence Massacre"--on August 21, 1863, Quantrill's gang attacked the small Kansas town of Lawrence, which had a reputation of being a center of abolitionists and pro-Union militias, known as Jayhawkers, and a particularly violent group of anti-slavery vigilantes known as Redlegs, who themselves were responsible for the killings of many pro-Confederate and/or pro-slavery civilians. Approximately 450 guerrillas attacked Lawrence shortly after 5:00 am, taking over a hotel for their headquarters and fanning out across town with lists of men to be killed. Many of those killed were unarmed, including approximately 20 young men who had just been recruited into the Union army, although they had not yet been sworn in. Altogether approximately 150 men and boys--some as young as 12--were executed, some of them shot or knifed, and others tied up and thrown into burning buildings. The guerrillas set fire to as many buildings as they could, and approximately one-quarter of the town eventually burned to the ground. Anderson himself was implicated in some of the most brutal murders committed during the incident, and it was estimated that he personally killed more than a dozen unarmed prisoners.

After the raid Quantrill and his band went to Texas to spend the winter, and it was here that Quantrill and Anderson had a falling out. Anderson accused Quantrill of the murder of one of the guerrillas, resulting in Quantrill's arrest by Confederate authorities. Anderson then formed his own band of guerrillas and returned to Kansas, becoming one of the most feared of the guerrilla bands infesting the area. On Sept. 27, 1864, Anderson led his band in an attack on the Kansas town of Centralia. He captured 24 Union soldiers, and after assuring them of good treatment, proceeded to execute them all. He then laid a trap for Union forces coming to relieve the town, which resulted in more than 100 militiamen being killed.

Approximately a month after that incident, Anderson was himself the victim of an ambush by Union troops. Caught by surprise, many of his men were killed, wounded or fled. Anderson was recognized by a pursuing Union officer, who fired several shots at him. He was hit behind the ear with at least one bullet and, apparently, died instantly.

Imre Madách was born on 21 January 1823 in Alsósztregova, Hungary [now Dolná Strehová, Slovakia]. He was a writer, known for The Annunciation (1984), The Tragedy of Man (2011) and Az ember tragédiája (1969). He was married to Erzsébet Fráter. He died on 4 October 1864 in Alsósztregova, Hungary [now Dolná Strehová, Slovakia].

András Fáy was born on 30 May 1786 in Kohány, Hungary. He was a writer, known for A külföldiek (1975). He died on 26 July 1864 in Pest, Hungary.

Antonio Somma was born on 28 August 1809 in Udine, Kingdom of Italy [now Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy]. He was a writer, known for Masked Ball (1917), The Metropolitan Opera HD Live (2006) and How Much Do You Love Me? (2005). He died on 8 August 1864 in Venice, Veneto, Italy.

Eugene Testera was married to Hazel. Eugene died on 1 January 1864 in San Bernardino, California, USA.

Otto Lindblad was born on 31 March 1809 in Karlstorp, Jönköpings län, Sweden. He is known for Walpurgis Night (1935), Nyordning på Sjögårda (1944) and Karl Fredrik Reigns (1934). He was married to Emma Andersson. He died on 26 January 1864 in Mellby, Sweden.

José Bernat i Baldoví was a writer, known for El virgo de Visanteta (1979) and Visanteta, estáte quieta (1979). José died on 1 January 1864 in Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain.

Jeb Stuart was born on 6 February 1833 in Patrick County, Virginia, U SA. He died on 12 May 1864 in Richmond, Virginia, USA.

Gonçalves Dias was born on 10 August 1823 in Caxias, Maranhão, Brazil. He was a writer, known for Crime Delicado (2005). He was married to Olímpia Carolina da Costa. He died on 13 November 1864 in Guimarães, Maranhão, Brazil.