Shearjashub Spooner

Born in Brandon, Vermont, in 1809, Shearjashub Spooner trained as a physician and later worked in New York. Alongside his medical career, he became a busy author whose books ranged widely across history, criticism, and public debate.

Spooner is especially known for his abolitionist writing. His 1845 book The Unconstitutionality of Slavery argued that slavery had no legitimate basis in the U.S. Constitution, making him part of the broader antislavery movement that challenged both law and custom.

He also wrote works such as Anecdotes of Painters, Engravers, Sculptors and Architects, showing a strong interest in art and biography as well as politics. He died in 1859, leaving behind a body of work that reflects the restless, argumentative energy of antebellum America.