Elizabeth Cady Stanton (Notable Americans)

STANTON, Elizabeth Cady, reformer, was born in Johnstown, N.Y., Nov. 12, 1815; daughter of Judge Daniel Cady (q. v.) and Margaret (Livingston) Cady; and granddaughter of Col. James Livingston (q. v.).   She was graduated from Johnstown academy, taking the second prize in Greek, in 1829, and from Mrs. Emma Willard's seminary, Troy, N.Y., in 1832.  She subsequently read law in her father's office, also acting as his amanuensis, and through this environment became interested in obtaining equal laws for women.   She was married, May 1, 1840, to Henry Brewster Stanton (q.v.), whom she accompanied to the World's Anti-Slavery convention at London, England, participating in the debate in regard to the admission of women as delegates to the convention.  While abroad, she formed a friendship with Mrs. Lucretia Mott (q. v.), with whom she issued the call for the first woman's rights convention, held in Seneca Falls, N.Y., July 19-20, 1848, and which, after long and bitter opposition, inaugurated the woman suffrage movement.  In the same year she secured the passage of her "married woman's property bill," and in 1854 addressed both houses of the New York legislature on the unjust laws for women.  She again addressed the legislature in 1860, by request, advocating divorce for drunkenness, and in 1867 urged upon the legislature and the state constitutional convention the right of women to vote. She subsequently canvassed numerous states in behalf of woman suffrage; was; a candidate for representative in the U.S. congress in 1868, and from 1868 annually appeared before a committee of congress, advocating a 16th amendment to the constitution of the United States, granting suffrage to women.  She resided in Tenafly, N.J., 1870-90, and subsequently in New York city.  She was the mother of Daniel Cady Stanton, Louisiana state senator, 1870; Henry Stanton (Columbia, B.L., 1865), corporation lawyer; Hon. Gerrit Smith Stanton (Columbia, B.L., 1865); Theodore Stanton (Cornell, A.B., 1876, M.A.), journalist and author of "Woman Question in Europe; " Margaret Stanton Lawrence (Vassar, A.B., 1876), professor of physical training; Harriot Stanton Blatch (Vassar, A..B., 1878, M.A.), president New York Equal Suffrage league (1903-03); Robert Livingston Stanton (Cornell, B.S. 1880, Columbia, B.L., 1881).  Mrs. Stanton was president of the national committee of her party, 1855-65; of the Woman's Loyal league, 1861; of the National Woman Suffrage association, 1865-93, and honorary president, 1893-1903; and first president and founder of the International Council of Women, 1888.  In 1868, with Susan B. Anthony and Parker Pillsbury, she established and edited the Revolution, a weekly newspaper. She is the author of: The History of Woman Suffrage (with Susan B. Anthony and Matilda J. Gage, 3 vols., 1880-86, vol. 4, 1903); Eighty Years and More, autobiography (1895); The Woman's Bible (1895); and of contributions to periodicals at home and abroad. Her eightieth birthday (1895) was widely celebrated. She died in New York city, Oct. 2, 1902, the funeral address being delivered by the Rev. Moncure D. Conway,  and was buried at Woodlawn cemetery, New York city, where her husband was also buried, the Rev. Phoebe A. Hanaford officiating.  A memorial service was held in New York city, Nov. 19, 1902, William Lloyd Garrison delivering an address.