1788–1868

Introduction

Born: April 14, 1788, Con­cord, New Hamp­shire.

Died: March 30, 1868, Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia.

Buried: Ger­man­town Church of the Breth­ren Ce­me­te­ry, Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia.

portrait

Biography

Harriet was the daugh­ter of Ed­ward St. Loe Li­ver­more (1762–1832), law­yer and Unit­ed States rep­re­sen­ta­tive from Mas­sa­chu­setts, and grand­daugh­ter of Sa­mu­el Li­ver­more (1732–1803), Unit­ed States se­na­tor from New Ha­mp­shire and pre­si­dent pro tem­po­re of the Unit­ed States Se­nate in 1796 and 1799.

She is re­mem­bered as a prea­cher and world tra­vel­er. Samuel Teas­dale Li­ver­more (1824–1892) wrote about her in Har­ri­et Li­ver­more, the Pil­grim Stran­ger (Hart­ford, Con­nec­ti­cut: 1884).

She preached to the Unit­ed States Con­gress in 1827, 1832, 1838, and 1843—Am­eri­can pre­si­dent John Quin­cy Adams was in her au­di­ence in 1827.

John Green­leaf Whit­ti­er's poem Snow-Bound has re­fer­enc­es to her.

Works

Poem

Omnipresence of Deity

God is present everywhere,
In heaven and earth, in sea and air,
O’er mountain tops, in valleys low,
Where the lofty forests bow;
In blackest night, or noonday clear,
God is present everywhere.

In the dashing torrent’s roar,
Or th’ threatening tempest’s power,
In the fragrant breeze of spring,
With the birds of loftiest wing;
Sun and moon and stars declare
God is present every where.

Most delightful is the thought,
Saints cannot go where God is not,
Present, to guard them by His power,
In every scene and every hour;
Even in death’s cold arms they sing,
Our souls are safe beneath His wing.

Harriet Livermore (1788–1868)

Sources

Lyrics