STOWE, HARRIET ELIZABETH BEECHER, A TOCTiC8B authoress, da11,21HCr Of the Rev. Dr Lyman Beecher, and wife of Rev. prof. Calvin Ellis Stowe, was b. at Litchfield, Conn., June 15, 1812. At the age of 15, she was engaged with her elder sister, Catherine, as teacher in a girls' school in Hartford. She was married to prof. Stowe in 1836, and became a frequent contributor to periodicals, published some stories in a volume entitled The Mayflower, and other spirited juvenile stories for the Sunday-school libraries. The ability of Mrs. Stowe as a delineator of character, and especially of New England char acter, was known to Many; but her full power was scarcely suspected until, in 1851. she commenced in The _National Era, an antislavery paper at Washington, a serial tale, entitled Uncle Tam's Cabin. When completed in 1852, it was published at Boston, and its popularity was so infmense, that it soon sold in four stereotype editions to the extent of 400,000 copies. The English reprints arc estimated to have Circulated 500,600, and it was rapidly translated into all European and some Asiatic languages, and was extensively dramatized and illustrated. In 1853, she, published a Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin, and
made a visit to Europe, where she was received with distinguished consideration. The events and impressions of this triumphant tour are recorded in her Sunny .,lIembries of Foreign Lands (2 vols. Boston, 18.54). In 1856 she published Dred, a Tale of the Dismal &, another anti-slavery story, which had a wide circulation. This was followed in 1859 by The ifinister's 1Voaing, a story of New England life in the 18th c., etc. In 1869, Mrs. Stowe contributed to 'Macmillan's Magazine an article entitled The True Story of Lady Byron's Life, some statements in which, reflecting on the character of lord Byron, gave rise to much stormy criticism, and occasioned her writing (1870) Lady Byron cated, in which she replied to her critics. Mrs. Stowe was in 1868-70 joint editor of hearth and home, and contributes to the Independent and other journals. Among her more recent works are Little Foxes (1865); Y'he Chimney Corner (1668); Men of Our limes (1868); Pink and White Tyranny (I871); My Wife and I (1872); Poganuc People (1878).