Owen Lovejoy

Abolitionist and US statesman, born in Albion, Maine, USA. Preparing for the Presbyterian ministry under his minister and editor brother, Elijah, he was there the night that Elijah was killed by an anti-abolitionist mob in Alton, IL, while defending his printing press. Vowing to fight slavery to vindicate his brother, he spoke fearlessly for this cause (1840–50) despite an Illinois law prohibiting abolition meetings. Elected to the Illinois legislature as an abolitionist (1854), and an early booster of Abraham Lincoln, he was elected to the US House of Representatives (Republican, Illinois, 1857–64) where he sponsored the bill calling for an end to slavery in the USA.

Owen Lovejoy (January 6, 1811 – March 25, 1864) was an American lawyer, abolitionist, Republican and congressman. Lovejoy was elected from Illinois as a Representative to the Thirty-fifth United States Congress and succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1857, until his death.

Born in Albion, Maine, he lived for a time in Princeton, Illinois, and the city maintains and preserves his home for historical purposes.