Hannah More | Eminent Women

Hannah More

Hannah More was an English religious writer, a poet, a playwright, a political activist, a social reformer and a philanthropist.

In 1788, she worked with Evangelical clergyman and hymn-writer, John Newton and the abolitionist Member of Parliament, William Wilberforce. Her poem, Slavery, was published in 1788 to coincide with the first parliamentary debate on the slave trade. In that poem, she wrote:

Does matter govern spirit? or is mind

Degraded by the form to which 'tis joined?

No: they have heads to think, and hearts to feel,

And souls to act with firm, though erring, zeal;

For they have keen affections, kind desires,

Love strong as death, and active patriot fires;

Because of her writing and never-ending passion for people, Hannah More is considered one of the most influential women of her time.

Hannah More was listed among the eminent women in the records of the St. George Temple. To learn more about the painting by Michael Bedard in this video please click here.