Robert Montgomery Bird (1806-1854) was an American novelist, playwright, and physician. He started to write commentary on Latin, American, and English literature, particularly the Elizabethan playwrights. Bird then started to write short poems and fiction during his time in medical school. After graduating, he attempted to begin a medical practice, but became discouraged after one year and left medicine to pursue a literary career, but he also pursued a number of other interests. In 1837, he began a career as a journalist. He became the editor of the North American Magazine and United States Gazette in 1847. Bird also taught medicine at the Pennsylvania Medical College.