Isaac Tatem Hopper (b. Deptford, New Jersey, December 3, 1771, d. New York City, May 7, 1852) was an American abolitionist who is known as the father of the underground railroad.
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Isaac T. Hopper was a Hicksite Quaker (a follower of Elias Hicks). When he was young, Philadelphia was infested by slave kidnappers. The Pennsylvania Abolition Society, of which Hopper became an active and leading member, was frequently called upon to protect the rights of African-Americans, and in time he became known to everyone in Philadelphia as the friend and adviser of the oppressed race in all emergencies.
Hopper was also an overseer of the Benezet school for African-American children, and a volunteer teacher in a free school for African-American adults.
He was one of the founders and the secretary of a society for the employment of the poor; volunteer prison inspector; member of a fire company, and guardian of abused apprentices. When pestilence was raging he was devoted to the sick, and the poor called on him to plead with importunate landlords and creditors. He would sometimes exert his influence over the insane, for which he had a peculiar tact. Although he was a poor man with a large family, his house was for many years a home for impoverished Quakers, and he transacted much business for the Society of Friends.
In 1829 he went to New York to run a bookstore established by the Hicksite Quakers. In the autumn of 1830, being called to Ireland on business connected with his wife’s estate, he visited England. In both countries he was at first treated somewhat cavalierly by the orthodox Quakers, and was pointed out as the one “who has given Friends so much trouble in America.” His candor and amiability soon removed these unfavorable impressions, and he had no occasion ultimately to complain of his reception. In the spring of 1841, the demand for Hicksite books having greatly diminished, Hopper became treasurer and book agent for the Anti-slavery society.
In 1845 he relinquished these offices, and devoted the rest of his life entirely to the work of the Prison Association of New York. In this he was assisted by his daughter, Abby H. Gibbons, who was as vigilant and active in behalf of women discharged from prison as was her father in behalf of men. Through her exertions, an asylum was founded for these unfortunates, which was called the “Isaac T. Hopper Home.”
The aged philanthropist frequently visited Albany, New York, to represent the association and to address the legislature. Judge Edmonds says of one of these occasions: “His eloquence was simple and direct, but most effective. If he was humorous, his audience were full of laughter; if solemn, a death-like stillness reigned; if pathetic, tears flowed all around him.” He often pled for the pardon of prisoners, and Governor John Young, of New York, once told him: “Friend Hopper, I will pardon any convict whom you say you conscientiously believe I ought to pardon.”