Samuel Bowles
Born on February 9, 1826, Samuel Bowles was a prominent American journalist who served as the owner and editor-in-chief of The Springfield Republican, a newspaper that remains highly influential today due largely to Bowles's leadership. His acquaintance with Emily Dickinson began in 1860 at the Evergreens, the home of Emily's brother, Austin, and his wife Sue. Bowles and Dickinson engaged in an extensive correspondence, with over fifty letters surviving, particularly from the years 1861 to 1862—a challenging period for Emily. Bowles was also a key recipient of Dickinson's creative output, receiving around 40 of her poems. Notably, Bowles affectionately nicknamed Emily "Daisy," a moniker she embraced in some of her poems. A significant hiatus in their communication occurred from 1862 to 1874, following the death of Emily's father, Edward Dickinson. While the exact reasons for this pause are unclear, it is often attributed to Dickinson's increasing reclusivity. Upon resuming their correspondence, Bowles and Dickinson exchanged flowers annually on the anniversary of Edward's death until Bowles's passing in 1878.
Samuel Bowles was an Aquarius. Ruled by Uranus, Aquarius is the 11th sign of the zodiac, with the element of Air.