Theodore Tilton facts for kids
Theodore Tilton (born October 2, 1835 – died May 29, 1907) was an American newspaper editor, poet, and abolitionist. An abolitionist was someone who worked to end slavery. He was born in New York City to Silas and Eusebia Tilton. On his 20th birthday, October 2, 1855, he married Elizabeth Richards. Tilton's newspaper work strongly supported the movement to end slavery. He also supported the Northern states during the American Civil War.
Early Life and Career
Theodore Tilton was a strong supporter of equal rights. In September 1866, he attended a meeting in Philadelphia. This meeting was called the Southern Loyalist Convention. Frederick Douglass, a famous abolitionist, wrote about Tilton in his autobiography.
Douglass said that Tilton was brave and understood the situation well. He was not afraid to treat Douglass as an equal. Douglass described Tilton as a "poet and a scholar." He also noted that Tilton was a brilliant writer and an eloquent speaker. Tilton was the editor of a weekly newspaper that was very popular in New York. Douglass shared that Tilton came to him, shook his hand, and offered to walk with him in a procession. This showed Tilton's support for Douglass and the cause of equality.
From 1860 to 1871, Tilton worked as an assistant to Henry Ward Beecher. Beecher was a famous preacher and social reformer. In 1869, Tilton gave the graduation speech for the Irving Literary Society. This society was at Cornell University.
Life as a Poet
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As a poet, Theodore Tilton is well-known for his poem 'Even This Shall Pass Away'. This poem is considered his most important work. The poem talks about how everything in life changes and eventually comes to an end. It reminds us that both good and bad times are temporary.
Later Years and Legacy
Towards the end of his life, Theodore Tilton moved to Paris, France. In the 1880s, he often played chess with another American living in Paris. This friend was Judah Benjamin, who had been a leader in the Southern Confederacy during the Civil War. They played chess until Benjamin passed away in 1884.
Tilton's 1858 poem "The King's Ring: Even This Shall Pass Away" was later turned into music. The musician Robert Plant recorded a version of the poem on his album Band of Joy.
Principal Works
- Victoria C. Woodhull. A Biographical Sketch. 1871.
- Tempest-Tossed A Romance. 1874.
- The Complete Poetical Works of Theodore Tilton in One Volume With a Preface on Ballad-Making and an Appendix on Old Norse Myths & Fables. 1897.
