Hale (Sarah Josepha Buell) is born in Newport, New Hampshire.

Sarah Josepha Hale is educated at home, becomes a teacher, then a writer and poet. After the death of her husband, Edward Hale, she moves to Boston in 1827 to serve as literary editor of the Ladies Magazine. Although not a suffragist, she becomes increasingly active in promoting women’s rights and various social causes. Hale moves to Philadelphia when the magazine merges with Godey’s Lady’s Book in 1841. She dies there on April 30, 1879.