20 Facts About Lydia Sigourney

Lydia Huntley Sigourney, Lydia Howard Huntley, was an American poet, author, and publisher during the early and mid 19th century.

Mrs Lydia Sigourney was born in Norwich, Connecticut, to Ezekiel Huntley and Zerviah Wentworth.

Lydia Sigourney described Wadsworth as her "kind patron" and says that he "took upon himself the whole responsibility of contracting publishers, gathering subscriptions, and even correcting the proof sheets".

Lydia Sigourney goes on to say that "He delighted in drawing a solitary mind from obscurity into a freer atmosphere and brighter sunbeam".

Lydia Sigourney often wrote elegies or poems for recently deceased neighbors, friends, and acquaintances.

Lydia Sigourney was particularly strong in her condemnation of slavery and the mistreatment of the indigenous Americans.

Lydia Sigourney's influences included the work of Hannah More, William Wordsworth, and William Cowper.

An advocate of gendered spheres of society, Lydia Sigourney followed the example of Hannah More in creating a gendered rhetorical theory.

Lydia Sigourney promotes the importance of being agreeable throughout the book, and suggests ways to take notes, along with advice on how to paraphrase what one has read.

Lydia Sigourney recommends that girls should form reading societies, and says that women should use their virtue to promote its appearance in others.

In 1835, Lydia Sigourney published Zinzendorff, and Other Poems which featured a notable poem entitled "Garafilia Mohalbi".

Lydia Sigourney was kidnapped and sold as a slave to an American Merchant Joseph Langdon.

Lydia Sigourney freed her and adopted her as his daughter.

Lydia Sigourney made a case for the value of silence at times, and argued that part of a woman's role is to be a good listener.

Lydia Sigourney was one of the most popular writers of her day, both in the United States and in England, and was called 'the American Hemans.

An early advocate for social reform in slavery and in internal migration, Lydia Sigourney felt obligated to use her position to help oppressed members of society.

Lydia Sigourney inspired many young women to attempt to become poets.

Lydia Sigourney wrote to inspire others, and Huntingdon felt that she had been successful.

Lydia Sigourney contributed more than two thousand articles to many periodicals and some 67 books.

When Lydia Sigourney gave up her anonymity for good, she became the most widely known "authoress" and "poetess" in America.