Don't google it but seriously guess who this person could be and I'll include some hints. 1) He inspired 2 other highly regarded people for his ideas but recieves far less publicity for his words and actions as his succesors. 2)His supposed middle name is actually his first name 3)He lived in the woods for an extended period of time 4) He was sent to jail for not paying taxes 5) He supported the actions of Captain John Brown 5) he died in 1862
Guessing it's not a Mr. Dominic Ragone. A speechwriter, for Abe Lincoln maybe? Hell if I know for sure, but I kinda get that impression. Did Lincoln use a speechwriter or did he do his own writing?
Here's another hint, along the lines of what you were saying. He wrote a really famous article during his life inspired by a war going on.
Lessee. Famous articles. Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address (though both of those might have come along later than 1862... not sure, and didn't Lincoln pen them himself?). I am doing this without Google, so hey. Guessing he was a staunch abolitionist if he was supportive of John Brown. I'm fixated on the American Civil War given everything you've said. I have scads of Civil War history books, would nosing through them be cheating?
well, supposing he was from a slightly EARLIER period which makes the 1862 death a bit more timely... That obv would be a daguerreotype or tintype pic, I have no idea exactly when those things became common enough for even the wealthy to afford. War of 1812 would be too early. Wars abroad... Crimean? When was that?
Uhhhh I don't know. Emerson? Thoreau? That awesome gay guy who unfortunately got sued for being gay? Those are the only famous dead people I can remember off the top of my head who went to jail.