Author Richard Henry Dana, Jr. was an American lawyer, author, and poet who is best known for his book Two Years Before the Mast, which is based on his experiences as a sailor in the early 19th century. Dana was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1815 and died in 1882. His first name was often abbreviated to 'R.H.' Dana's middle name, Henry, was taken from his father's name. He is also known for his three-letter surname, Dana, and his four-letter first name, LEE.