Samuel Longfellow
Samuel Longfellow was a prominent Unitarian preacher and hymn writer born in 1819 in Portland, Maine. He studied at Harvard Divinity School, where he was introduced to Transcendentalism, an influential philosophical movement that emphasized the spiritual experience of the individual. Ordained in 1848, Longfellow became known for his strong theistic beliefs and optimistic approach to faith, which some considered quite progressive for his time. Throughout his career, he collaborated with other notable figures, such as Samuel Johnson and Thomas Wentworth Higginson, to produce several books of hymns that continue to be cherished today. While he is often overshadowed by his more famous brother, poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Samuel's own poetic talents and gentle disposition earned him respect in his own right. He served primarily at the Second Unitarian Church in Brooklyn before shifting his focus towards writing and travel. After his brother’s passing in 1882, he authored a biography titled *Life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow*, which remains one of his most recognized works. Samuel Longfellow passed away on October 3, 1892, leaving behind a legacy of faith and creativity.
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Samuel Longfellow
Writer
- Born: June 18, 1819
- Birthplace: Portland, Maine
- Died: October 3, 1892
- Place of death: Portland, Maine
Biography
Samuel Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine, in 1819. He attended Harvard Divinity School, where he first encountered Transcendentalism, a concept that developed in New England in the early to mid-nineteenth century and focused on the spiritual essence of the individual’s experience. Longfellow was attracted to Transcendentalism’s spiritual idealism and lofty goals.
Longfellow was ordained a Unitarian preacher in 1848. During his career as a preacher, Longfellow wrote several books of hymns, some with Samuel Johnson and Thomas Wentworth Higginson. As a Unitarian, Longfellow was known for holding strong theist beliefs; others considered his beliefs radical, even for a Unitarian.
Although overshadowed by his older brother, poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Samuel Longfellow wrote amazing hymns, some of which are still sung today, and was known for his kind, optimistic disposition and his poetical Christianity. People said that even though Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was made a great poet, Samuel Longfellow was born a great poet. Longfellow preached primarily to the Second Unitarian Church in Brooklyn from 1853 to about 1860, when he began traveling and concentrating more on writing. After his brother’s death in 1882, Longfellow moved to Germantown, Pennsylvania, to live with his nieces. In 1886, he wrote his brother’s biography, Life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, for which he is best known. Longfellow died on October 3, 1892.