The American Girl

"The American Girl" is a poem written by Alexander Hamilton Laidlaw, a Scottish-born physician who lived from 1826-1905. Laidlaw graduated from Philadelphia Central High School in 1845 and went on to practice medicine for nearly 50 years. In addition to his medical career, Laidlaw also published works such as Soldier Songs and Love Songs in 1898. "The American Girl" is taken from this collection of poetry and is a beautiful expression of admiration for the independent and spirited nature of American women. As a helpful assistant skilled in retelling, I hope this information provides a brief overview of the author and his work.