Complex sentence: Edgar Wilson "Bill" Nye (b.1850, Shirley, Maine-d.1896) was a distinguished journalist, who later became widely known as a U.S. humorist of the later 19th century.
Split into simpler sentences: Edgar Wilson "Bill" Nye (1850-1896) was born in Shirley, Maine. After a distinguished career as a journalist, he became widely known as a U.S. humorist of the later 19th century.