Thomas
Wentworth Higginson
b. Cambridge, MA, December 22,
1823
d. Cambridge, MA, May 9, 1911
Prominent in literary and educational life of Newport. Probably due to
wife's poor health and ancestral heritage, they chose Newport as home.
Arrived 1864, after Civil War Service.
Wife, Mary Channing, a daughter of Dr. Walter Channing and niece of Rev.
William Ellery Channing, was an invalid.
Became closely identified with city's interests - mainly the cause of education.
Appointed Chairman of Newport's School Committee, he led the movement to
abolish separate schools for black and white children in 1865. Not reelected,
serves this committee again in 1874-1876.
Took great interest in exercise for the student. Instrumental in equipping
the first school gymnasium in Newport (in the yard of the old John Clarke
School, not the current one, but same location as the present one).
Writes his first novel here Malbone: An Oldport Romance. He would
claim that "there were more authors living here (Newport) than anywhere
else in America." (Elliott p. 82)
A director of the Redwood Library; member of the Town & Country Club;
at least a 13 year resident - lived at various locations including:
The boarding house of Mrs. Hannah Dame. House no longer exists - present
Paramount Theater building on Broadway, then known as Broad Street.
Lived a season or two at Hunter House, and small house on Cottage Street
(Stevens p. 5).
Lived on Mann Avenue, corner of Kay Street, and also at what was then
known as 7 Brinley (City Directory).
Clergyman, abolitionist, historian, author and poet. Lover of nature and
sports. Deeply interested in the abolition of slavery. Considered a "radical."
Grows up in a highly intellectual and literary atmosphere. At age 13, enters
Harvard - graduated in 1841. Graduated Harvard Divinity School in 1847.
Developed strong convictions against slavery.
Ordained and installed as pastor of the First Religious Society (Unitarian)
at Newburyport, MA; married Mary Channing (1847).
Leaves church due to anti-slavery preaching (1850); eventually becomes
pastor of the Free Church (radical and non-sectarian) at Worcester, MA
(1852-1861).
During this period - heads west, aides in Kansas free state movement.
Becomes acquainted with John Brown, the abolitionist of Harper's Ferry
fame.
Civil War: Higginson joined a Massachusetts regiment; made Colonel of First
South Carolina Volunteers, composed of South Carolina Negroes, the first
Negro regiment of freed slaves mustered into the Union Service. Wounded
in 1863, discharged the following year.
Frequent contributor to Atlantic Monthly, The Nation. Higginson
wrote or edited over 30 books and 500 articles.
Married second wife Mary P. Thacher, niece by marriage, of H.W. Longfellow
in 1879; spends the last 30 years of life in Cambridge and summers in Dublin,
NH.
Bibliography
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