H.L. Mencken (September 12, 1880 – January 29, 1956) passed away at the age of 75. He was a renowned American journalist, essayist, satirist, critic of American life and culture, and a scholar of American English. He was also a prominent figure of the 1920s era. Mencken wrote for national publications such as The Smart Set, the New York Evening Mail, the Baltimore Sun, and American Mercury. He became widely successful for his observations that shocked some members of society who were upset by his criticism of American tastes, behaviors, and values. Mencken was honored in numerous ways for his publications, and for his contributions to literature. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 1926. In 1933 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His obituary was featured on the front page of The New York Times. He leaves behind a legacy that changed the ways in which Americans critiqued modern life and stand in the face of popular culture.