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Harriet Beecher Stowe is born
American author and abolitionist, Harriet Beecher Stowe, is born in Litchfield, Connecticut, USA, to parents Rev. Lyman Beecher and Roxana Foote Beecher. Harriet was the 6th out of 11 siblings born. Link: https://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/harriet-beecher-stowe/harriet-beecher-stowe-life/ -
Roxana Foote Beecher (Harriet's mother) dies
Harriet's mother, Roxana Foote Beecher, died of tuberculosis at the age of 42 Link: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/200061638/roxana-foote-beecher -
Catharine (the eldest sibling) becomes like a mother figure for Harriet and the other siblings
After the death of Harriet's mother, Roxana Foote Beecher, Catharine (the eldest sibling) took over much of the responsibility for taking care/raising her younger siblings. Link:https://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/harriet-beecher-stowe/harriet-beecher-stowe-life/ -
Harriet furthers her education
In 1824, Harriet began attending Catharine Beecher's Hartford Female Seminary, founded by her sister Catharine. This school gave women an outlet to further explore courses that were also given in schools with most or all-male students. This was evidently shown through Harriet's work (more specifically essays) she did for the school. -
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Harriet continues her time at Hartford Female Seminary
Not only was Harriet a student at Hartford Female Seminary, but she became a teacher and began teaching from 1829 to 1832. Link: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/harriet-beecher-stowe#:~:text=At%20age%20eight%2C%20she%20began,essays%20she%20produced%20for%20school. -
Harriet moves with her family
In 1832, a 21-year-old Harriet moved with her family to Cincinnati, Ohio. Her father, Rev. Lyman Beecher, was appointed president of Lane Theological Seminary. Link: https://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/harriet-beecher-stowe/harriet-beecher-stowe-life/ -
Harriet publishes her first book
Her time in Cincinnati was filled with meeting brilliant minds and reformers of that time period, including notable abolitionists. Harriet published her first book for children, Primary Geography for Children, in 1833. Link(s): https://fcit.usf.edu/florida/lessons/stowe/stowe1.pdf -
Harriet meets her husband
In 1836, Harriet met and later married Calvin Stowe, a professor at Lane Seminary. Calvin encouraged/supported Harriet to continue writing. The pair had 7 children together, 6 of them were born in Cincinnati, OH. Link(s): https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/harriet-beecher-stowe#:~:text=At%20age%20eight%2C%20she%20began,essays%20she%20produced%20for%20school. https://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/harriet-beecher-stowe/harriet-beecher-stowe-life/ -
Harriet loses one of her children
In the summer of 1849, Harriet experienced what many parents in the 19th century went through when her 18-month-old son, Samuel Charles Stowe, died due to cholera. Harriet later credited this painful event as one of her inspirations for her most prominent book, Uncle Tom's Cabin. That pain she felt and experienced helped her empathize with and feel the pain enslaved mothers/parents went through when their child/ren were sold off like property. -
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, passed by the United States Congress on September 18, 1850, allowed any Northerners who saw a runaway slave(s) return them to their slave owner(s). The passage of this act infuriated many Northerners, including Harriet. The passage of this act would become the ground for her most famous novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin. -
Harriet publishes Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet's most famous novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, was released as a book on March 20, 1852. Link: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/harriet-beecher-stowe#:~:text=At%20age%20eight%2C%20she%20began,essays%20she%20produced%20for%20school. -
Harriet publishes A Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin
A Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin was released in 1853. Link: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/harriet-beecher-stowe#:~:text=At%20age%20eight%2C%20she%20began,essays%20she%20produced%20for%20school. -
Harriet meets Abraham Lincoln
Harriet met Abraham Lincoln on November 25, 1862, in Washington D.C., at the White House. Link(s): https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/harriet-beecher-stowe#:~:text=It's%20widely%20reported%20that%20Lincoln,quote%20can't%20be%20proven. https://civilwaronthewesternborder.org/timeline/harriet-beecher-stowe-meets-lincoln -
Harriet and her own family moved to Hartford, Connecticut
Once Calvin retired, Harriet and her own family moved to Hartford, Connecticut in 1864, after the Civil War. Although they moved to Hartford, they would vacation in Mandarin, Florida during the winter season. The family enjoyed this as the winters were milder in Florida than they were up north in Hartford, where the cold and high winter fuel costs made for more stress. Link(s): https://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/harriet-beecher-stowe/harriet-beecher-stowe-life/ -
Harriet Beecher Stowe's death
Harriet Beecher Stowe died on July 2, 1896, in her Hartford home, surrounded by family. According to Harriet's obituary, Harriet died because of years-long "mental trouble," which became small and led to "congestion of the brain and partial paralysis." Harriet inspired, and will continue, to inspire people to have an open mindset. She was 85 years old at the time of her death.