Antoinette Brown Blackwell First woman preacher in the United States Date of Birth: 20.05.1825 Country: USA

The First Female Preacher in the USA

Antoinette Louisa Brown, later known as Antoinette Brown Blackwell, was born in 1825 in Henrietta, New York. She was the daughter of Joseph Brown and Abby Morse. From a young age, Antoinette was a devout parishioner in the local church and excelled in her studies. After graduating from Monroe County Academy at the age of 16, she began teaching in a school. However, this proved to be too challenging for a teenager, so Brown continued her education at Oberlin College in Ohio.

At Oberlin, Brown took a literary course designed for female students. During her vacation, she taught and studied Hebrew and Greek. Upon her return, she applied for admission to the theology course. Despite facing initial restrictions, the administration eventually allowed her to pursue her studies. She later became a brilliant orator and a serious writer. Her theological works were later classified as "feminist theology."

During her time at Oberlin, Brown became actively involved in advocating for women's rights. She spoke at the first National Women's Rights Convention, which led to a series of lectures on women's rights. Eventually, she was allowed to preach, and in 1852, she became the rector of the Congregational Church in South Butler, New York. This made Brown the first woman ordained as a minister and the first female preacher in the United States. It was during this time that she found a staunch supporter in Luther Lee, who actively promoted her as a preacher. However, Lee's support alone was not enough to convince the congregation to accept a female preacher.

After facing setbacks, Brown returned to her work as an orator and reformer. During this period, she married Samuel C. Blackwell, who became an even stronger advocate for women's rights. Brown Blackwell firmly believed that only well-educated women in theology could end the oppression of women. Interestingly, before meeting her future husband, she firmly believed that only unmarried women could truly be independent. However, her conviction wavered, and she turned towards marriage. Together, they had seven children, although two did not survive infancy.

As a mother and homemaker in a large family, Brown Blackwell reduced her public appearances and focused more on writing. She authored around eight books, including a novel and a collection of poems. In the 1860s, she became heavily involved in the women's rights movement again and, along with Lucy Stone, organized the American Woman Suffrage Association.

In the late 1870s, Brown Blackwell turned back to religion and was recognized as a minister. In 1920, at the age of 95, she attended the Women's Rights Convention in Worcester, Massachusetts, where the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote, was ratified. Brown Blackwell herself voted for Warren G. Harding in the presidential elections.

Antoinette Brown Blackwell passed away at the age of 96 in Elizabeth, New Jersey. In 1989, her childhood home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.