Robert Montgomery Bird (February 5, 1806 – January 23, 1854) was an American novelist, playwright, and physician.Bird was born in New Castle, Delaware on February 5, 1806.[2] He was born to a pioneer family. His father was a prosperous partner in the firm of Bird and Riddle, government navy agents. When his family was forced to disband (as written in one of his earliest writings "My Father- who died when I was 4 years old"), his mother and brothers moved to Philadelphia and he was taken in by a rich uncle in New Castle. His uncle's name was Nicholas Van Dyke. He then attended New Castle Academy where he was encouraged to develop his musical aptitude. However, he said that these years were not pleasant. After attending the New Castle Academy and Germantown Academy, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1824.[3] He started to write, commenting on examples of Latin, American, and English literature, particularly the Elizabethan dramatists. He then started to write short poems and fiction during his time in medical school. He had little passion for medicine. By 1827, he had published items in the Philadelphia Monthly Magazine along with two comedies, 'Twas All for the Best and News of the Night.[3] After graduating from medical school, he attempted to begin a medical practice but became discouraged after one year and left medicine to pursue a literary career Less