Lucretia Mott

American Quaker abolitionist and suffragist

Born: January 3, 1793 · Died: November 11, 1880

Lucretia Mott — Image via Wikimedia Commons or Wikipedia.

Overview

Major work

Lucretia Mott was an American Quaker, abolitionist, women's rights activist, and social reformer.

Who was Lucretia Mott?

Lucretia Mott (born Coffin; January 3, 1793 – November 11, 1880) was an American Quaker, abolitionist, women's rights activist, and social reformer. Mott helped found the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania and Swarthmore College and raised funds for the Philadelphia School of Design for Women. She had formed the idea of reforming the position of women in society when she was amongst the women excluded from the World Anti-Slavery Convention held in London in 1840. Her speaking abilities made her an important abolitionist, feminist, and reformer; she had been a Quaker preacher early in her adulthood. She advocated giving black people, both male and female, the right to vote (suffrage). Her home, with husband the Quaker leader James Mott was a stop on the Underground Railroad. She remained a central figure in reform movements until her death in 1880.

Historical significance

In 1848, she was invited by Jane Hunt to a meeting that led to the first public gathering about women's rights, the Seneca Falls Convention, during which the Declaration of Sentiments was written. The area around her long-time residence in Cheltenham Township is now known as La Mott, in her honor.

Lucretia Mott, c. 1859–1870, Carte de Visite Collection, Boston Public Library.

Related on thisDay

How did the 1850 Worcester convention expand women's rights?

The first National Women's Rights Convention began in Worcester, Massachusetts, combining male and female leadership to address voting and property rights.

Sources and further reading

Use the dated article for the day-specific account; use these references to check the event record and explore its wider historical context.

Date article: How did the 1850 Worcester convention expand women's rights?Wikipedia source

Cite this page

MLA

“Lucretia Mott.” thisDay, thisday.info/people/lucretia-mott/. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

APA

Lucretia Mott. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://thisday.info/people/lucretia-mott/

Chicago

“Lucretia Mott.” thisDay. Accessed October 22, 2026. https://thisday.info/people/lucretia-mott/.

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