Today in 1728, Mercy Otis Warren was born. A resounding patriot writer, Warren was the author of “History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution,” the first complete chronicle of the American War for Independence.
Related to several of the most prominent Whig politicians in Massachusetts, she became known as one of the best writers of her time, and as the “Muse of the Revolution.” By surrounding herself with the most famous figures of the time, and by recording the pivotal events that gripped her world, Otis’ writings are deserving of study still today.
Later in life, Warren opposed the ratification of the United States Constitution primarily because it lacked a bill of rights. She was a leading critic of the Johns Adams administration, rupturing her friendship with the man. Thomas Jefferson was a huge fan of her work and considered her a friend, ordering subscriptions of her work for his cabinet. Jefferson recollected her “high station in the ranks of genius,” and viewed her as a brilliant patriot.
Even Alexander Hamilton, who radically opposed her political philosophy, showered her with accolades by suggesting that in the realm of dramatic composition, “female genius in the United States has outstripped the Male.”
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