Julia Ward Howe

Full biography Julia Ward Howe

Julia Ward Howe was an American composer, poet, and activist born on May 27, 1819, in New York City. She was a prominent figure in popularizing the feminist movement and advocating for women's rights. She is best known for her poem "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," which was later set to music and became a popular American song.

Howe was raised in a wealthy and intellectual family and received an education that was rare for women in her time. She was fluent in multiple languages and had a passion for music and literature. At the age of 20, she married Samuel Gridley Howe, a physician and social reformer known for his work with the blind.

Despite her busy family life, Howe continued to pursue her artistic passions. She published her first book of poems, "Passion Flowers," in 1854. She also wrote numerous plays, stories, and essays. Her most notable work, however, is undoubtedly "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," which she wrote in 1861.

Howe was deeply affected by the Civil War and the abolitionist movement. She was inspired to write her famous hymn after visiting Union troops near Washington, D.C. The song quickly became one of the most popular patriotic songs in the United States and was sung by soldiers on both sides of the conflict.

Throughout her life, Howe was a tireless advocate for women's rights. She was an active member of the suffrage movement and helped to found numerous women's organizations, including the New England Woman Suffrage Association and the American Woman Suffrage Association. She also wrote and lectured extensively on the subject of women's rights.

Julia Ward Howe died on October 17, 1910, at the age of 91. She is remembered as one of the foremost female activists and artists of her time, and her contributions to American culture and society continue to be celebrated to this day.