Harriet Beecher Stowe

Harriet Beecher Stowe was an American abolitionist and author, whose most famous work, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" (1852), played a pivotal role in shaping public opinion on slavery in the years leading up to the American Civil War. Born in Litchfield, Connecticut, to a prominent religious family, she was the sister of noted minister Henry Ward Beecher. Stowe was educated at Hartford Female Seminary and actively participated in the intellectual circles of New England, which strongly influenced her writing and activism.

"Uncle Tom's Cabin," a vehement anti-slavery novel portraying the harsh realities of life for African Americans under slavery, became an international bestseller and is credited with helping to galvanize the abolitionist movement in America. Beyond her signature work, Stowe wrote over 30 books, including novels, three travel memoirs, and collections of articles and letters.

Throughout her prolific writing career, she employed her literary talent to advocate for social change, focusing on issues of race and gender. Harriet Beecher Stowe's influence extended beyond her literary output. She met with President Abraham Lincoln in 1862, and her engagement in public discussions on slavery and women's rights solidified her as a key figure in the social movements of her time.