William Sydney Porter
- Born:
- September 11, 1862, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
- Died:
- June 5, 1910, New York City, New York, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Short Story Writer, Pharmacist, Bank Teller, Journalist
Early Life and Education
- Born William Sydney Porter to Algernon Sidney Porter, a physician, and Mary Jane Virginia Swaim Porter.
- Lost his mother to tuberculosis when he was three years old.
- Attended a private school run by his aunt, Evelina Maria Porter.
- At fifteen, he left school and worked in his uncle's drugstore.
- Became a licensed pharmacist in 1881.
Career and Major Achievements
- Moved to Texas in 1882 for health reasons.
- Worked various jobs including ranch hand, clerk, and draftsman.
- Married Athol Estes Roach in 1887.
- Employed as a bank teller at the First National Bank of Austin, Texas.
- Accused of embezzlement; fled to Honduras in 1896.
- Returned to the U.S. to be with his ailing wife.
- Served three years in prison (1898-1901) for embezzlement.
- Began writing professionally under the pseudonym "O. Henry" while in prison.
- Achieved widespread fame for his short stories, known for their surprise endings.
- Wrote prolifically, publishing over 300 stories.
Notable Works
- Cabbages and Kings (1904)
- The Four Million (1906)
- Heart of the West (1907)
- The Trimmed Lamp (1907)
- The Voice of the City (1908)
- Roads of Destiny (1909)
- Options (1909)
- Strictly Business (1910)
- Whirligigs (1910)
- One of his most famous stories is "The Gift of the Magi." Reading o henry biography gift magi henry shows us that he was a prolific writer.
Legacy and Impact
William Sydney Porter, known as O. Henry, left a significant mark on American literature through his prolific output of short stories characterized by wit, irony, and surprise endings. His stories often depict everyday life and the human condition with compassion and insight.