Riley, James Whitcomb (1849-1916)

US poet. His first collection of poems, The Old Swimmin' Hole, was published 1883. His later collections include Rhymes of Childhood 1890 and Home Folks 1900. His use of the Midwestern vernacular and familiar themes earned him the unofficial title ‘The Hoosier Poet’.

Born in Greenfield, Indiana, Riley had little formal education and worked at a series of odd jobs before becoming the editor of a local newspaper. In 1877 he began to contribute light verse to the Indianapolis Journal.