author
Nehemiah Adams
1806–1878
An influential nineteenth-century Congregational minister and prolific writer, Nehemiah Adams combined evangelical preaching with books on theology, biography, travel, and American slavery. His controversial account of the South and later journey around the world made him a notable—and debated—voice of his era.
5 Audiobooks
The Sable Cloud: A Southern Tale With Northern Comments (1861)
by Nehemiah Adams
Under the mizzen mast: A voyage round the world
by Nehemiah Adams
Catharine
by Nehemiah Adams
Bertha and Her Baptism
by Nehemiah Adams
About the author
Nehemiah Adams (February 19, 1806–October 6, 1878) was an American clergyman and writer born in Salem, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard University in 1826 and Andover Theological Seminary in 1829, then began his ministry as co-pastor of the First Congregational Church in Cambridge. In 1834, he became pastor of Boston’s Union, or Essex Street, Congregational Church, a position he held until his death.
Adams wrote widely on Christian belief and history, including The Life of John Eliot, The Communion Sabbath, and several religious novels and devotional works. His 1854 visit to the American South led to A South-Side View of Slavery, a book that defended aspects of slavery and drew sharp criticism from abolitionists. The controversy became a defining part of his public reputation.
In later life, Adams traveled around the world after a period of ill health. He described that voyage in A Voyage Around the World (1871), later expanded as Under the Mizzen Mast. He died in Boston at the age of 72.