Bret Harte was an American short story writer and poet who is best remembered for his short fiction featuring miners, gamblers, and other romantic figures of the California Gold Rush. Born in 1836 in Albany, New York, Harte had a varied career that spanned more than four decades. In addition to his short stories and poetry, he also wrote plays, lectures, book reviews, editorials, and magazine sketches. Harte's most famous works include the short stories 'The Luck of Roaring Camp' and 'The Outcasts of Poker Flat', which helped establish him as a leading voice in American literature during the late 19th century. He passed away in 1902 in London.