Inspirational Quotes by Maria Weston Chapman (American Abolitionist)

Maria Weston Chapman (1806–85,) née Maria Weston, was a prominent American abolitionist who played a significant role in the fight against slavery. Her dedication to social justice went beyond the abolitionist cause, as she actively advocated for women’s rights, including suffrage and equal educational opportunities. Her grandson, John Jay Chapman, was a renowned essayist and poet.

Born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, Chapman spent considerable time living with her uncle’s family in England, where she received an exceptional education. Initially, she was the principal of the Young Ladies’ High School in Boston. In 1832, she co-founded the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society and twelve other women. During a society meeting in 1835, when a violent mob threatened to disrupt their proceedings, Chapman made a notable statement that became well-known among abolitionists: “If this is the last bulwark of freedom, we may as well die here as anywhere.”

Chapman maintained a close association with William Lloyd Garrison, the renowned abolitionist, and worked as an editor for The Liberator, an anti-slavery newspaper. She authored the pamphlet titled Right and Wrong in Massachusetts (1839,) arguing that the divisions among abolitionists stemmed from disagreements over women’s rights.

Furthermore, from 1839 to 1842, Chapman served as the editor of the Non-Resistant, the official publication of Garrison’s New England Non-Resistance Society. In 1836, she published a collection of Songs of the Free and Hymns of Christian Freedom. Later, in 1877, she published an edition of Harriet Martineau’s autobiography, supplemented with a lengthy memoir.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Maria Weston Chapman