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How did Walt Whitman’s health affect his later life?

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“Walt Whitman, an American, one of the roughs, a kosmos” — Walt Whitman American poet Walt Whitman, photograph by Mathew Brady.

Walt Whitman’s health significantly impacted his later life, beginning with illness in 1872, which was likely exacerbated by long-term emotional strain. In January 1873, he suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed.1

This health crisis forced major changes in his circumstances:
* Relocation: By May 1873, he had recovered enough to travel to Camden, New Jersey, to be with his dying mother, after which he remained in Camden to live with his brother.1
* Employment: His position in the attorney general’s office was terminated in 1874.1

Despite these challenges, Whitman’s health improved sufficiently by 1879 to allow him to travel to the West. Following the successful publication and sales of later editions of Leaves of Grass, he was able to purchase a modest cottage in Camden, where he spent his remaining years surrounded by friends until his death in 1892.1