Herman Melville, American novelist, short story writer, and poet (died 1891)

Herman Melville was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet of the American Renaissance period. Among his best-known works are Moby-Dick (1851); Typee (1846), a romanticized account of his experiences in Polynesia; and Billy Budd, Sailor, a posthumously published novella. At the time of his death Melville was not well known to the public, but 1919, the centennial of his birth, was the starting point of a Melville revival. Moby-Dick would eventually be considered one of the great American novels.

August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 152 days remain until the end of the year.