HOPPER, IsAsc TaTmi, b. N. J., 1771; (1. N. Y., 1852. His ancestors were of the religious society of Friends, but his grandfather was disowned for choosing a wife from anotfier sect, and so he was not himself a " birthright member," but joined the society when he was 29 years of age. Ile was distinguished as a boy for his and courage, his fondness for anhnals, and an indomitable love of fun, which often betrayed itself in practical jokes of a very annoying character, and which in pleasanter ways he manifested even in his mature years. He was but 9 years old when he met an old'negro who had been stolen from Africa when a little boy and sold into slavery. Ile listened to the old man's story with strong emotion, and, young as he was, made a solemn vow to himself that he would a'ways be the friend of oppressed Africans. At 16 years of age he was apprenticed to an uncle in Philadelphia to learn the trade of a tailor. This wasthe golden age of Quakerism, and he fell under the influence of its most distinguished and members. Even while he was an apprentice he began to be the helper of "slaves unlawfully held in bondage," of whom there were great numbers in Pltiladelphia. In early manhood he became an active and leading member of the abolition society founded by Franklin, Bush, and others, and in process of time was generally recognized in Philadelphia as the friend and legal adviser of colored pe,iple in all their trouldes. lie was also au overseer of a school for colored children, fotimEd by the celebrated Anthony Benezet, secretary of ri society fog the employment of the poor, inspector of a prison, guardian of abused apprentices, and a friend of the insane. In these various forms of philanthropic labor he such comage, Let, and devotiofi that he won the confidence of all his associates. In the division of the society of Friends, which occurred in 1827-28, he acted with those who were called " Hicksites," influenced much, no doubt, by his great regard and admiration for Elias Hicks as an earnest anti-slavery preacher; and in 1829 he came to New York nail rpeued a Friends' bookstore. In 1830 business called him to Ireland, and he went with 1e:tea's of commendation front many of the most eminent citizens of Philadelphia. 11Iiiithew Carey wrote to him in terms which he well knew would lie the surest passport to popu lar favor on the other side of the Atlantic. " I have been well acquainted with you," lie said, "about 35 years, and I can testify that, during the whole of that time, you have been a perfect pest to our southern neighbors. A southern gentleman could scarcely visit this city without having his slave taken from him by your instrumentality; so that they dread you as they do the devil." His personal resemblance to a pc ela' Bonaparte was so striking that it attracted general notice. Joseph Ponaperte, who knew him well, expressed the opinion that if he were to appear in Paris, dressed in the emperor's uniform, nothing could be easier than for him to excite a revolution. Mr. Hopper, naturally enough, was among the first to join the anti-slavery niovement organ. ized by Garrison in 1831. His life was often imperiled in his efforts in aid of slaves; and as for reputation, such was the state of public sentiment in NCNew'Yorkfrom 1831 to 1845 that he was often denounced in public as well as private. Even the society of Friends shrank from defending him. More than once he was called upon to defend himself in the courts, but every attempt to bring him under the grasp of the law failed.
In such cases he refused to employ counsel, relying confidently upon his own knowl edge of the law and his ability to defend himself. Once, when he was accused, the court, impressed by the gravity of the case, earnestly advised him to engage a la wver. "Does the court," he asked, "understand the law' 1" "Yes," replied the juage. " Well, then," said the imperturbable Quaker, " what need, have 1 of crunsel ? The court understands the law and 1 understand the facts; is not that enough ?" llis accusers never dared to brimg the case to trial. He visited the court many times, demanding to be tried, and at length the case was dismissed. Bowie-knives and pistols were more than once used by slave-hunters to frighten him, but in vein. Dur ing the pro-slavery riots of 1834 a friend advised him to remove the anti-slave•y picture/3 from the window of his store. " Dost thou think," lie replied, " 1 am such a coward as to forsake my principles or conceal them at the bidding of a mob ?" When the mob came down the street with discordant yells, he walked out and stood upon the steps. As they stopped before Its door, he looked at them with a courage and dignity so impressive that they were utterly abashed. Once he was knocked down in the street and savagely beaten by a slave-hunter's agent, who approach• him from behind; but this did not in the least abate his zeal. In 1840 he was appointed treasurer and office agent of the American anti-slavery society. The society of Friends was then under the control of a party opposed to any active hostility to slavery. This party, offended by the criticisms of the .National Anti-Siavery Standard, for which Dlr. Hopper was in no way responsible, arraigned and disowned hint for "Leine_ concerned in the putoication and support of a paper calculated to excite discord aner.disunity among Friends; other but less ambiguous terms, for being an abolitionist. In 1845 the society removed its head-quarters to Boston, which necessitated the retirement of Mr. Hopper from a post which lie had filled for five years. He was now almost '70 years old, but full of bodily and mental vigo•, and lie gave the last years of his life mainly to the service of the New York prison association, in the organization of which lie took an influential part. It was mainly through his personal influence indeed that the net of incorporation WAS secured. For ten years he was the active agent of this society, often visiting the prison at Sing Sing and addressing the prisoners in a way calculaied to inspire in them a purpose to lead better lives. He was the friend and counselor of discharged convicts, finding employment for such as manifested a purpose to reform, and trying to keep them out of temptations which they had not the strength to resist. In this field of benevolence his ripe judgment, rare tact, and true sympathy for the unfortunate found ample exercise. Thi7 institution for discharged female convicts was named, in his honor, "The Isaac T. Hopper Home," and has been administered front that day to the present by his daughter, Mrs. Gibbons. When he died, widely honored and lanienteri, the society of Friends offered a place for his remains in their cemetery; but his Mired was in Greenwood cemetery, his children remembering that the society had excom municated him, and deferring to his own express desire. Mr. hopper was twice mar ried, and 10 of his 16 children survived hint. His life, by Mrs. L. Maria Child, was pub lished in 1853.