Affairs, Scandal and Poetry - Sarah Wentworth Morton Finds a New Hero
Sarah Wentworth Morton was a popular poet during the first five Presidential Administrations.
Despite personal setbacks with her family life, Morton challenged society’s beliefs by using minorities as the main characters in her stories.
Sarah Wentworth Apthorp Morton
Sarah Wentworth Apthorp was born to a wealthy Boston family.
She also married rich.
Her husband, Perez Morton, was a successful lawyer and future Attorney General of Massachusetts.
Scandal
Unfortunately, the Morton marriage was not a happy one.
Perez had an affair with Sarah’s sister, Fanny.
Fanny became pregnant and the resulting scandal rocked Massachusetts.
Fanny was so embarrassed by the whole situation that she left a suicide note and intentionally overdosed on laudanum.
Her Own Affair
Divorce was extremely taboo during the late 18th century.
Sarah and Perez Morton decided to reconcile and continue with their marriage.
Years later, however, Sarah would also have an affair. Her lover was Constitution-writer and noted ladies’ man Gouverneur Morris.
Poet
Sarah always had an affinity for writing poetry.
For years, her work was simply handed out in her social circles. However, in the immediate aftermath of the family’s scandal, Morton began publishing her work.
Writing under the pen name Philenia, Sarah issued several works of poetry as well as a handful of novels during the first three decades after George Washington assumed the office of the President.
Literary Contributions
Of all the works written by Sarah Morton, the most important are The African Chief and Ouabi.
The African Chief was a popular anti-slavery poem (before anti-slavery stances were popular).
Ouabi, her most successful piece, was an epic poem which was the first American publication that starred a Native American as a hero.
Do you want to learn about other FOUNDING POETS?
Check out these articles:
Philip Freneau - The Father of American Poetry
Phillis Wheatley - From Slave Girl to Master Poet
Sarah Wentworth Morton is often forgotten in American Revolution literary discussion, but her contributions were great.
‘The Life and Works’ listed below is very hard to find but it sheds an important light on her time and place in history.
If you’d like a copy you can get one through the Amazon affiliate link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same).
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