1838 – Ralph Waldo Emerson delivered a sermon at Harvard Divinity School to seven graduating students, faculty members, and local ministers. Known as the Divinity School Address, the sermon caused a storm of protests, and Emerson was not allowed to speak at Harvard for another generation. Henry Ware Jr. and Andrew Norton rebuked him, but Theodore Parker came to Emerson’s defense. Read a short biography of Emerson, or view an exhibit about Emerson from the 2003 Bicentennial of Emerson’s birth.