By John Hill, CEO and Editor
"Abolitionist, US Ambassador, & The First Black Minister to Address Congress"
Henry Highland Garnet was a remarkable American abolitionist, minister, educator, orator, and diplomat. Born into slavery in Chesterville, Maryland, on December 23, 1815, he escaped with his family as a child and grew up in New York City. His grandfather was an African chief who had been captured and enslaved, while his parents, George Trusty and an “extraordinarily energetic” mother, passed on a legacy of resilience.
In 1824, Garnet’s family of 11 seized an opportunity to escape slavery during a funeral trip. They fled in a covered wagon, receiving help from Quaker abolitionist Thomas Garrett in Delaware. Eventually, they settled in New York City, where Garnet began attending the African Free School in 1826. His education was interrupted by the need to work, including voyages as a cabin boy and steward on ships. At one point, the family was tracked by slave hunters, forcing Garnet into hiding with Quaker allies in Long Island. He endured hardships, including a serious leg injury while indentured, but returned to complete a year at the African Free School.
Garnet’s passion for abolitionism took root during his school years. In 1831, he advanced his education at the Phoenix High School for Colored Youth while attending Sunday school at Shiloh Presbyterian Church, where he was baptized by Reverend Theodore Sedgwick Wright, a lifelong friend. In 1834, Garnet co-founded the Garrison Literary and Benevolent Association with William H. Day and David Ruggles, creating a space for Black intellectual engagement despite racial opposition.
In 1835, Garnet enrolled at the integrated Noyes Academy in New Hampshire, but violent anti-abolitionists destroyed the school. Undeterred, he continued his studies at the Oneida Institute in New York, where his wit and rhetorical brilliance shone. After graduating in 1839, Garnet suffered a knee injury that eventually required the amputation of his lower leg.
In 1841, Garnet married Julia Ward Williams, and together they had three children, though only one survived to adulthood.
Women’s participation in the abolitionist movement sparked controversy and led to a split within the American Anti-Slavery Society. Arthur and Lewis Tappan, along with notable Black ministers like Henry Highland Garnet, founded the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society (AFAS), which emphasized political abolitionism and male leadership at its helm.
By 1849, Garnet began advocating for Black emigration to countries like Mexico, Liberia, or Haiti, where he believed greater opportunities awaited. To support this vision, he established the African Civilization Society, inspired by the British African Aid Society, aiming to create a West African colony in Yorubaland (modern-day Nigeria). He also proposed Black colonies in America’s Western territories. Fellow advocates included Daniel Payne, J. Sella Martin, Rufus L. Perry, Henry M. Wilson, and Amos Noë Freeman.
In 1850, Garnet traveled to Great Britain at the invitation of Anna Richardson, a leader in the free produce movement, which boycotted goods made by enslaved labor. As a popular lecturer, he spent two and a half years abroad. Sadly, during this time, his young son, James, passed away. Later that year, Garnet was reunited with his wife, Julia, and their other children in Britain.
In 1852, Garnet accepted a missionary appointment in Kingston, Jamaica, where his wife Julia ran an industrial school for girls. However, health issues eventually brought the family back to the United States.
Garnet’s passion for justice remained steadfast. After John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859, he boldly declared in a sermon that supporting Brown’s actions was a moral duty. His admiration for Brown earned him recognition as one of the abolitionist’s close supporters.
During this period, Garnet served as president of the African Civilization Society, which sought to “Christianize and civilize Africa.” However, with the onset of the Civil War, his hopes for emigration faded. Garnet turned his focus to supporting the Black community in the United States. During the New York draft riots in 1863, he and his family narrowly avoided violence when his daughter removed their nameplate to hide their identity.
Throughout the war, Garnet actively supported the United States Colored Troops, recruiting Black soldiers and serving as a pastor for many. His contributions culminated in a historic moment on February 12, 1865, when he became the first Black minister to address the U.S. House of Representatives. His sermon celebrated the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, marking the end of slavery.
After the Civil War, in 1868, Henry Highland Garnet became the president of Avery College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Later, he returned to New York City to serve as pastor of Shiloh Presbyterian Church (formerly the First Colored Presbyterian Church and now St. James Presbyterian Church in Harlem).
Garnet’s personal life saw significant changes during this period. His first wife, Julia Williams, passed away on January 7, 1870, at their home in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. In 1875, Garnet married Sarah Smith Tompkins, a New York teacher, school principal, suffragist, and community organizer. Together, they shared a dedication to education and social reform.
Henry Highland Garnet’s final wish was to visit Liberia, where his daughter Mary Garnet Barboza lived, and to spend his last days there. In 1881, he was appointed U.S. Minister (ambassador) to Liberia. Garnet arrived in the country on December 28, 1881, but sadly passed away from malaria on February 13, 1882. His death marked the end of a life dedicated to freedom, justice, and equality.
Liberia honored Garnet with a state funeral, a fitting tribute to his legacy. As described by Alexander Crummell, Garnet was buried “like a prince” in the land of his ancestors. The entire capital’s military forces, along with the President, his cabinet, religious leaders, educators, students, and citizens, joined the solemn procession. Reverend E. W. Blyden, a renowned scholar and thinker, delivered a noble tribute. Minute guns fired in respect as the procession moved toward Garnet’s resting place at Palm Grove Cemetery in Monrovia.
Even Frederick Douglass, who had long-standing disagreements with Garnet, mourned his passing and recognized his significant contributions to the cause of justice and equality.
References and Continued Reading
Henry Highland Garnet. Let The Monster Perish: The Historic Address to Congress of Henry Garnet. (Westminster John Knox Press: Louisville, KY) 2020.
--. Let Slavery Die: The Life of Henry Highland Garnet and his 1865 Discourse Before the House of Representatives. (Log College Press: Madison, MS) 2020.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson. Let Your Motto Be Resistance: The Life and Thought of Henry Highland Garnet. (Beacon Press: Boston) 1972.
William J Simmons. Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive, and Rising. “Rev Henry Highland Garnet D.D.” Chapter XCIII. Page 656-661. (Arno Press: New York) 1968.
Accessed on Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/menmarkeminentp00turngoog/page/659/mode/2up. 12/18/2024.
Many of Garnet’s speeches and writings are available free online at https://www.logcollegepress.com/henry-highland-garnet-18151882
Comments