Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1830. Her father was a lawyer and treasurer of the local college. He also served in Congress. Emily had a distant relationship with her mother who suffered from depression. Around 1850 Emily began to compose her first poems. Her initial poetic style was conventional though later she began to experiment with different styles. Her poems dealt with various issues such as nature, faith, and death. Emily died in 1886.