Max Ehrmann

• Name — Max Ehrmann • Born — 26 September 1872 • Birthplace — Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. • Died — 9 September 1945 • Place of death — Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. • Resting Place — Highland Lawn Cemetery, Terre Haute, Indiana • Known for — Prose poem "Desiderata" (1927) • Education — DePauw University Harvard University • Occupation — Attorney, businessman • Spouse — Bertha Pratt King Ehrmann

Ehrmann was of German descent; both his parents emigrated from Bavaria to the United States in the 1840s. Young Ehrmann was educated at the Terre Haute Fourth District School and the German Methodist Church. He received a degree in English from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, which he attended from 1890 to 1894. While there, he was a member of Delta Tau Delta's Beta Beta chapter and was editor of the school newspaper, Depauw Weekly. Ehrmann then studied philosophy and law at Harvard University, where he was editor of Delta Tau Delta's national magazine The Rainbow, circa 1896.

Ehrmann returned to his hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1898 to practice law. He was a deputy state's attorney in Vigo County, Indiana, for two years. Subsequently, he worked in his family's meatpacking business and in the overalls manufacturing industry (Ehrmann Manufacturing Co.) At age 40, Ehrmann left the business to write. At age 55, he wrote Desiderata, which achieved fame only after his death.