The serialization of the short story The Brick Moon in the Atlantic Monthly introduced the first fictional description of an artificial satellite to a mass audience. This narrative was one of many contributions by Edward Everett Hale, a writer and minister whose literary output spanned more than sixty books, including fiction, history, sermons, and biographical accounts.
Early Education and Ministry
Born in Boston in 1822, Edward Everett Hale exhibited early academic promise, graduating from the Boston Latin School at age 13 before enrolling at Harvard College. He secured his degree in 1839 and pursued further studies at the Harvard Divinity School. By 1842, the Boston Association of Ministers licensed him as a Unitarian preacher. He held pastoral roles at the Church of the Unity in Worcester beginning in 1846, followed by a long tenure at the South Congregational Church in Boston, where he served from 1856 until 1899.
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Hale established his reputation through contributions to the Atlantic Monthly, notably with 1859's My Double and How He Undid Me. His best-known narrative, The Man Without a Country, appeared in 1863 to support the Union cause during the Civil War. His work often utilized a minute realism that prompted readers to mistake fiction for historical record. He is also recognized as an early pioneer of science fiction; his 1881 story Hands Off explored time travel and alternate timelines, decades before such themes became mainstream literary tropes.
Institutional Involvement
Beyond his literary and clerical duties, Hale maintained a lifelong connection with the American Antiquarian Society. He served on its board of councilors for multiple terms, held the position of recording secretary, and acted as vice-president and president between 1891 and 1907. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1865 and joined the American Philosophical Society in 1870. In 1903, he served as Chaplain of the United States Senate.
Social Organizations
Hale channeled his moral philosophy into organizational work, including the creation of the Lend a Hand Society in 1891 to implement themes from his writing. His 1870 work Ten Times One is Ten introduced a motto focusing on looking forward and lending a hand, which inspired the formation of various clubs for young people. These initiatives expanded his influence beyond publishing, creating a framework for religious and charitable work that endured after his death in Roxbury in 1909.
Fast facts
- Born: 1822, Boston
- Died: 1909, Roxbury
- Education: Harvard University
- Positions: Chaplain of the United States Senate (1903)
- Notable Works: The Man Without a Country, The Brick Moon, Margaret Percival in America
- Awards: American Library Association Honorary Membership (1895)
- Burial Site: Forest Hills Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Was Edward Everett Hale a science fiction writer?
Yes, he is considered a pioneer of the genre, having written one of the first fictional accounts of an artificial satellite and early stories involving time travel.
What was his primary occupation?
He was a Unitarian minister for most of his adult life, serving the South Congregational Church in Boston for over 40 years, while also working extensively as an author and editor.
Achievements
- Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Notable work: Margaret Percival in America
