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John
Greenleaf Whittier: (17 December 1807 – 7 September 1892). American Quaker
poet and abolitionist. Born near Haverhill, Mass.
Second child of John and Abigai(-1858) (Hussey). One older sister, one younger brother and sister. John never married
Born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, John was inspired by reading Robert Burns when he was 14. A committed abolitionist, he was a delegate to the first Anti-Slavery Convention in 1833. In 1835 he won election to the state legislature, and in 1842 ran for Congress. He was one of the founders of the Republican party.
After the Civil War he eschewed politics and dedicated himself completely to poetry.
Books
- Justice and Expediency (1833)
- Legends of New England (1831)
- Leaves from Margaret Smith’s Journal (1849)
Specifically poetry books includes:
- In War Time (1864)
- Songs of Labor (1850)
- Snow-bound (1860)
- The Tent on the Beach (1867)
- Maud Muller (1867)
His poems include:
- Andrew Rykman’s Prayer
- The King’s Missive
- The Word
- Barbara Frietchie
- Marguerite
- Skipper Ireson’s Ride
- The Barefoot Boy
- Laus Deo
- King Solomon and the Ants