Theodore Weld (1803 - 1895)

Wed Nov 23, 1803

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Theodore Dwight Weld, born on this day in 1803, was one of the architects of the American abolitionist movement during its formative years from 1830 through 1844, playing a role as a writer, editor, speaker, and organizer.

Weld is best known for his co-authorship of the authoritative compendium “American Slavery As It Is: Testimony of a Thousand Witnesses”, published in 1839. Harriet Beecher Stowe partly based her work “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” on Weld’s text, and it is regarded as second only to that work in its influence on the anti-slavery movement.

Weld married fellow abolitionist lecturer Angelina Grimké, Sarah, at the home of her sister in Philadelphia and explicitly rejected the legal power of husband over wife.

Their wedding was the opening event in a week-long abolitionist celebration. Long excluded from churches and meetings halls for fear of mob violence, Philadelphia abolitionists had raised $40,000 to build their own (in Weld’s words) “Temple of Freedom.” Just four days after the building opened, a mob burned it to the ground.

Weld continued his abolitionist work after the act of arson, temporarily moving to Washington D.C. to help anti-slavery efforts there. In 1848, Theodore, Angelina, and Sarah also started a progressive, racially integrated school in Belleville, New Jersey.

“Every man knows that slavery is a curse. Whoever denies this, his lips libel his heart.”

- Theodore Weld