Stephen Longfellow

Stephen Longfellow was a prominent figure in Maine's early history, serving as a Congressman and playing a key role in the state's Missouri Compromise. Born in Gorham, Maine, Longfellow was educated at Bowdoin College, where he studied alongside Nathaniel Hawthorne and Franklin Pierce. He later attended Litchfield Law School, graduating in 1804 and beginning his career as a lawyer in Portland, Maine. Longfellow's early life was influenced by his family's connections to Harvard University and the American Revolution, with his father, Peleg Wadsworth, serving as a Continental Army officer.

● Early Life and Education

Longfellow's education at Bowdoin College was marked by his involvement in the Peucinian Society, a literary club that also counted Nathaniel Hawthorne and Franklin Pierce among its members. During his time at Litchfield Law School, Longfellow studied under the tutelage of Tapping Reeve, a renowned lawyer and judge. After graduating, Longfellow returned to Portland, Maine, where he established a successful law practice and became involved in local politics. His connections to Boston, Massachusetts and the Federalist Party also played a significant role in shaping his early life and career, with figures like John Adams and John Quincy Adams influencing his views on states' rights and the War of 1812.

● Career

Longfellow's career as a lawyer and politician was marked by his service in the Maine State Legislature and the United States House of Representatives. He was a strong advocate for Maine's statehood, working closely with William King and William Pitt Preble to secure the state's admission to the United States in 1820. Longfellow's time in Congress was also notable for his involvement in the Missouri Compromise, which aimed to balance the power between slave states and free states in the United States Senate. His interactions with prominent politicians like Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and Daniel Webster helped shape his views on slavery and states' rights, which were influenced by the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions and the American System.

● Personal Life

Longfellow's personal life was marked by his marriage to Zilpah Wadsworth Longfellow, with whom he had several children, including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow, and Anne Longfellow Pierce. His family connections to Gorham, Maine and Portland, Maine played a significant role in his life, with his father, Peleg Wadsworth, serving as a prominent figure in the American Revolution. Longfellow's relationships with other notable figures, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, John Greenleaf Whittier, and James Russell Lowell, also influenced his personal life and views on literature and politics. His involvement in the Unitarian Church and the American Colonization Society further reflected his interests in social reform and abolitionism.

● Legacy

Longfellow's legacy is closely tied to his role in Maine's early history and his contributions to the state's politics and literature. His son, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, went on to become a renowned poet and professor at Harvard University, while his other children, Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow and Anne Longfellow Pierce, also made significant contributions to American literature and society. Longfellow's interactions with prominent figures like Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and William Tecumseh Sherman also reflect his enduring influence on American politics and history. The Stephen Longfellow House, now a museum in Portland, Maine, serves as a testament to his lasting impact on the state and its people.

● Works

While Longfellow did not leave behind a significant body of written works, his contributions to Maine's early history and American politics are well-documented in the writings of his contemporaries, including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Maine Historical Society and the Library of Congress also house numerous documents and records related to Longfellow's life and career, including his correspondence with John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. These primary sources provide valuable insights into Longfellow's views on states' rights, slavery, and American expansionism, which were influenced by the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican-American War.