Ward, Artemus, << AHR tuh muhs >> (1834-1867), was the pen name of Charles Farrar Browne, one of the most important American humorists of the 1800’s. Ward’s subjects varied from current events to general human weaknesses, all of which he treated in a light manner. He was largely responsible for the widespread use among humorists of intentionally misspelled words for comic effect. Ward also popularized comic lecturing.
Ward was born on April 26, 1834, in Waterford, Maine. His most famous works are the Artemus Ward letters, which describe the fictional adventures of a traveling showman. These letters first appeared in the Cleveland Plain Dealer in 1858. In 1866, Ward moved to London, where he enjoyed great popularity. He died there of tuberculosis on March 6, 1867, at the age of 33.
